By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, March 25: After two decades of uncertainty, Lau Wei Wei has finally received a Malaysian identity card bearing the ‘K’ prefix, marking a life-changing recognition of her status as a citizen of Sarawak.
Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government and Pelawan assemblyman Datuk Michael Tiang said the breakthrough was made possible through the efforts of the Pelawan Service Centre, which helped resolve longstanding documentation issues she had faced since birth.
“Wei Wei’s mother is a Sarawak native but did not possess an identity card. As a result, Wei Wei faced numerous obstacles in obtaining a ‘K’ MyKad previously.
“Today, with the assistance of our service centre under the leadership of Kapitan So Teck Kee, she has successfully secured citizenship, reflected in her ‘K’ prefix MyKad as a Sarawakian,” he said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news yesterday (March 24).
Tiang added that Kapitan So Teck Kee, together with Penghulu Ting Tien Huat, is now assisting in processing an identity card application for Lau’s mother.
He noted that cases of statelessness still persist in Sarawak and require sustained attention and coordination among relevant authorities.
“According to the National Registration Department (NRD), any child of Sarawakian parentage, whether born in the State or elsewhere in Malaysia, is eligible to be registered with the ‘K’ prefix,” he said.
He emphasised that the ‘K’ prefix goes beyond identification, as it enables access to a range of State government facilities and support, including education and welfare assistance.
“The Sarawak government offers various initiatives to ‘K’ MyKad holders, covering secondary and higher education, as well as aid programmes such as SKAS (Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance) ,” he said.
Tiang also urged Sarawakian parents to ensure their children are properly registered so they can fully enjoy the rights and benefits they are entitled to. — DayakDaily
