By Ling Hui & Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 16: Couples and parents have been urged to register their marriages so their children don’t fall victim to stateleness due to lack of documentation, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said stateless children would be stripped of access to education and healthcare which are some of the basic human rights they are entitled to.
“Sometimes people don’t want to register their marriage, because they’re scared that the first wife knows about a second marriage. That’s a personal issue there, but the children become the victim.
“If you really love your family, and you happen to have two wives, just register both marriages, and then try your best to coax your first wife.
“So that the children don’t get affected in the future. This is really an issue, one of the causes of stateless children in our community,” said Abang Johari before handing over Temporary Identification Documents (DSITKS) to 45 previously stateless children at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari also urged community leaders to spread this message to couples or parents who have not registered their marriages in their areas or longhouses.
He said community leaders could also inform the Resident or District Officer about such situations so that the ministry could accumulate the actual number of stateless children in Sarawak.
“So to all community leaders, please inform us what is happening in your community and longhouse. Not that we want to break up families, but we love the children.
“Children are an asset to a family. They must be given the right education so they can become adults that are capable and can help their families,” he added.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, and Sarawak State Secretary Dato Sri Mohammad Abu Bakar Marzuki. — DayakDaily
