KUCHING, March 9: The stateless issue in Sarawak does not only concern children, but also adults, including 92-year-old Basar Paru from Lawas who still has not obtained citizenship to-date.
Senator Robert Lau, in stating this, pointed out that there are countless cases of undocumented persons in Sarawak which remain unresolved, despite the issue being constantly raised in Parliament.
“I have also received many requests for assistance. Unfortunately, the number of cases resolved is low,” he said in a statement today.
Lau voiced full support for the call for the Federal government to give Sarawak full autonomy over the issue of undocumented children in Sarawak, made by Welfare, Community Well-being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah yesterday (March 8).
He also suggested the Sarawak government consider exercising the power under the Registration of Birth and Deaths Ordinance 1951 (Sarawak Cap. 10) by setting up its own registration department.
“This Ordinance can be used to issue a card upon the birth of any child to a Sarawakian parent.
“This card can then be used to register them for education, healthcare, employment and welfare purposes,” said Lau. — DayakDaily
