KUCHING: Yesterday was unforgettable for Nurhaida Abdullah 42 from the Philippines as her son Shadzuan Abdullah,13 was awarded Malaysian citizenship.
With that, Nurhaida said she was no longer worried about his fate.
“My husband is from Sarawak and I’m from the Phillipines. So when Shadzuan, our first child was born, we didn’t have a valid marriage certificate. This caused my son to face issues in obtaining his birth certificate and identity card.
“My son asked me many times why he didn’t have an identity card like his friends.
“Now, my struggle for my son has finally produced results. Alhamdulillah, this is a very meaningful day for us as a family,” she told New Sarawak Tribune, yesterday.
Nurhaida explained that with the citizenship, it would be easier for her son to go to school.
Similarly, Voon Nyit Ahin, 46, was thankful that his daughter’s application had been approved.
“I am very grateful and thankful to the federal and state governments that her application was finally approved after a long wait.
“I’m grateful that the government is concerned about the plight of our family and approved my daughter’s application. Now all school matters, including treatment at the government clinic or hospital, will be easy,” he said.
Voon advised those who were still waiting for their children’s citizenship status to be patient and to fully cooperate with the government throughout the process.
For Bowing Loa, 42, the absence of birth certificates and identity cards meant that her children could not go to school and their lives were marginalized.
“My children became victims of the situation and were treated like outsiders when they wanted to get services even in the hospitals.
“Now that they have obtained legal citizenship status, I am not worried anymore,” she said.
Bowing admitted that the application process for his son to obtain legal citizenship status was very difficult.
She extended her gratitude to the Sarawak government for making things easier for her family and hoped that her son would be able to repay the kindness of the government by serving in the state.
