SIBU: The K-indicator issue has yet to be resolved since it was brought in August 2021.
According to the former Bukit Assek assemblywoman, Irene Chang, she first brought up the issue in August 2021 regarding abandoned children born and legally adopted in Sarawak, and therefter granted Malaysian citizenship.
“Sad to say, more than three years later, this matter has still not been resolved. I have here one of the letters from the National Registration Department (NRD) Sarawak received recently rejecting the K-indicator application of one of the children whom I helped to obtain citizenship in 2023.
“This child was born in Sibu to a Sarawakian biological father and a foreigner biological mother. Both parents married each other after the birth of this child, hence a citizenship application is required.
“The information of both the biological parents is available and registered into the child’s birth certificate. The biological father’s status as a K-indicator holder is also clearly reflected in the birth certificate. I am perplexed that, despite this, the JPN Sarawak still rejected the K-indicator application based on the recommendation/confirmation by the Immigration Department of Sarawak,” she said in a press statement today (Jan 4).
Chang, a lawyer by profession, highlighted that pursuant to Section 4 of the Legitimacy Act 1961, the child has been legitimated from the date of marriage of both the parents, and as such, the Sarawak government should consider the child as a Sarawakian based on his biological father’s Sarawakian status.
She said both parents together with the said child and other children of the marriage are now residing in Sibu.
Given to understand that, despite assurances from the Sarawak government that this K-indicator issue would be resolved and was recently said to be approved by the state Cabinet to allow JPN Sarawak to insert the “K” into the identity cards into successfully adopted children of Sarawakian parents, as far as she knew, the relevant government departments have still not received the Circular or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with regards to K-indicator applications.
“There are still ambiguities and uncertainties as to the procedure and requirement for applying for the K-indicator in the identity cards,” she said, adding, in the meantime, the rejection of these “K” indicators continues.
“I therefore urge the Sarawak government to look into this matter with utmost urgency, as many of these children (few of whom are now adults), despite being granted Malaysian citizenship, are still unable to procure employments in Sarawak without first obtaining an Employment Pass.
“These individuals should rightfully be given the opportunity by the Sarawak government to contribute to our state’s economy, of being born and bred in Sarawak. In fact, a few of these individuals I know have gone to seek work in Singapore and West Malaysia.
“Many others are still in limbo and have to face the harsh reality of realising that, despite regarding themselves as Sarawakian born-and-bred, they are refused to be regarded as such,” Chang added.
