By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Aug 19: Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah has appealed for the Home Ministry to take prompt action and approve citizenship applications involving stateless children.
According to Fatimah, based on letters received requesting for the support from her ministry, there are currently about 150 other citizenship applications in Sarawak still waiting for approval.
“There are cases that have gone through our committee and there are also cases that have been forwarded to the Home Ministry,” she said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Fatimah also congratulated a 9-year-old girl, Jeanny Lianna Ating, from Lawas for been granted Malaysian citizenship recently.
She said Jeanny will now have access to education, health, welfare facilities and benefits that other Malaysian children enjoy.
“It is good for her self esteem and socio-emotional well being,” she added.
Earlier this year, Jeanny was stopped from attending school due to her citizenship status. — DayakDaily
