By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 10: Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew hopes that the recent settlement between the federal government and advocacy group Family Frontiers on citizenship rights for Malaysian mothers’ overseas-born children would pave the way for a swift and fair resolution for other stateless children facing similar challenges.
In a press statement issued today, the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general welcomed the settlement and expressed relief, noting that he has been following the case for years.
As a longstanding advocate for citizenship rights, Ting said he has encountered countless citizenship applications and has witnessed the hardships faced by stateless families.
“Many endure bureaucratic delays, uncertainty, and restricted access to essential services such as healthcare and education,” he said.
Therefore, he urged the federal government to take citizenship issues in Malaysia seriously and, when reviewing applications, to consider the hardships faced by applicants, expedite the approval process, and avoid subjecting families to lengthy waiting periods.
“The complex application procedures place an enormous burden on both children and parents. Some children are even denied access to healthcare and education, experiencing discrimination due to their stateless status,” he said. — DayakDaily
