By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, March 23: All seven abandoned babies under the care of Rumah Kanak-kanak Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah are granted Malaysian citizenship thanks to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA).
Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said she had initially requested the Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to give special consideration for the children’s citizenship applications in light of the impossibility for them to trace their biological parents.
She also pointed out that the citizenship status is very important to facilitate the children’s adoption process. Otherwise, the burden will be on the adoptive parents to apply for citizenship, which will take quite some time.
“Alhamdulillah, the home minister was sensitive to our plea, so all applications from our orphanage (Rumah Kanak-kanak Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah) have been approved.
“Out of the seven children, four have received their citizenship status while the remaining three are still waiting for theirs.
“Thus, we thank the home minister for hearing our plea to have special consideration be given to these children when we apply for citizenship because this will make it a lot easier for the adoptive parents,” she said during Plaza Merdeka’s ‘Meriahnya Aidilfitri’ launching ceremony held at the shopping mall here today.
At the event, Plaza Merdeka, in collaboration with Baby Shop and the Waterfront Hotel, hosted a special event where the special children had the opportunity to shop at Baby Shop and then enjoy breaking-of-fast at the Waterfront Hotel.
Plaza Merdeka also presented a donation worth RM10,000 to Rumah Kanak-kanak Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah.
In conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Plaza Merdeka has programmes lined up: the Meriahnya Aidilfitri Bazaar, which will commence from March 15 until April 9; Halimah Batik Roadshow (March 21 to April 8); Meriahnya Aidilfitri Redemption (March 22 to April 9); Ramadan Unity Bazaar (March 22 to April 7); Festival Kraf Kebangsaan 2024 (March 22 to 31); Segi College Bubur Lambuk (March 28, 4pm) and Rendang Making Workshop (April 6, 8pm).
Also present were Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Mayor Hilmy Othman, Plaza Merdeka Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Steve Ng and executive director Datin Anriza Wong Cordero. — DayakDaily
