Stateless senior citizen's on-going predicament
Lu Wei HoongPublished: Jan 28, 2013 1:03 PM | Updated: Jan 28, 2013 1:10 PM
Born in Sungai Way, Koh Soh Hooi, 68, has tried several times to apply for citizenship but the National Registration Department (NRD) has not given any response.
Despite several calls since April 2011, Koh Soh Hooi, 68, was told by NRD officers that ‘no decision has been made yet’.
Born in Sungai Way, Koh Soh Hooi, 68, has tried several times to apply for citizenship but the National Registration Department (NRD) has not given any response.
Koh’s daughter-in-law, Angeline Quek, 32, complained to Malaysiakini that the last time she brought Koh to Selangor NRD was in April 2011, in Shah Alam.
“The (NRD) officers interviewed her on her personal background and ability to speak Bahasa Malaysia.”
In an interview later, Koh said that she could answer NRD officer in bahasa pasar.
“I could answer most of the question. But I couldn’t answer on the name of Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” she joked.
According to the documents provided, Koh was issued a receipt which carries a blue stamp of “the result of citizenship application of (sir/madam) will be made known before Dec 31, 2012”.
Despite made several call throughout the 20 months, Quek said that Shah Alam and Putrajaya NRD officers only replied “No decision has been made yet”.
Failing to seek clear answers from NRD, she turned to 1Malaysia One Call Centre (1MOCC) on Jan 17 and the same reply was given.
Her endurance was finally pushed to the limit.
“I was angry at that time, (I asked) why does it take such a long time for my mother-in-law to get a reply?”
“Is it a racist problem? If so, I am willing to convert (my mother-in-law) to become a Muslim. So she could at least get an answer!” she said sarcastically.
Koh’s case is in sharp contrast with the federal government’s leniency of issuing MyKads to foreigners in Sabah, where Pakistani and Indian nationals became ‘instant’ Malaysians.
Citing the lack of a birth certificate, Koh said that NRD had rejected her applications since she was 13 year old and instead gave her permanent residency.
Managed to get married
Despite lacking a MyKad, she managed to get married in the late 70s, which ended up in separation.
“During the (difficult) times, many friends helped me to (get jobs) sewing clothes, making dough for vegetarian food and others.
“I used the money earned to raise two children,” she told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Unaffected by her stateless status, she said the two children are Malaysian citizens.
Currently, Koh is enjoying her golden years by working as a volunteer cook at a nursing home and hanging out with friends.
However, she has been facing difficulties to travel abroad with friends because she does not fulfill the prerequisite requirement - a MyKad - to get a passport.
“Previously, I needed to apply for a special visa to go to China. Other people could get it in two hours, I needed two days!” she lamented.
Hoping to get a passport, Koh wished that she could travel without fuss to Hat Yai, Thailand with her friends.
In a response on the issue, Selangor NRD officer Norliza Man said that the Home Ministry, not NRD, has the final say on granting citizenship.
“Normally the process will take approximately two years. The application needs to be filtered by police and other relevant agencies. That’s why it takes so long,” she told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Asked on the blue stamp which stated the result will be out before 2013, she said that the NRD has to do it “to fulfil the key performance index (KPI).”
Pressed further, she explained that the applicant could follow up the case based on the given date.
Koh’s daughter-in-law, Angeline Quek, 32, complained to Malaysiakini that the last time she brought Koh to Selangor NRD was in April 2011, in Shah Alam.“The (NRD) officers interviewed her on her personal background and ability to speak Bahasa Malaysia.”
In an interview later, Koh said that she could answer NRD officer in bahasa pasar.
“I could answer most of the question. But I couldn’t answer on the name of Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” she joked.
According to the documents provided, Koh was issued a receipt which carries a blue stamp of “the result of citizenship application of (sir/madam) will be made known before Dec 31, 2012”.
Despite made several call throughout the 20 months, Quek said that Shah Alam and Putrajaya NRD officers only replied “No decision has been made yet”.Failing to seek clear answers from NRD, she turned to 1Malaysia One Call Centre (1MOCC) on Jan 17 and the same reply was given.
Her endurance was finally pushed to the limit.
“I was angry at that time, (I asked) why does it take such a long time for my mother-in-law to get a reply?”
“Is it a racist problem? If so, I am willing to convert (my mother-in-law) to become a Muslim. So she could at least get an answer!” she said sarcastically.
Koh’s case is in sharp contrast with the federal government’s leniency of issuing MyKads to foreigners in Sabah, where Pakistani and Indian nationals became ‘instant’ Malaysians.
Citing the lack of a birth certificate, Koh said that NRD had rejected her applications since she was 13 year old and instead gave her permanent residency.
Managed to get married
Despite lacking a MyKad, she managed to get married in the late 70s, which ended up in separation.
“During the (difficult) times, many friends helped me to (get jobs) sewing clothes, making dough for vegetarian food and others.“I used the money earned to raise two children,” she told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Unaffected by her stateless status, she said the two children are Malaysian citizens.
Currently, Koh is enjoying her golden years by working as a volunteer cook at a nursing home and hanging out with friends.
However, she has been facing difficulties to travel abroad with friends because she does not fulfill the prerequisite requirement - a MyKad - to get a passport.
“Previously, I needed to apply for a special visa to go to China. Other people could get it in two hours, I needed two days!” she lamented.
Hoping to get a passport, Koh wished that she could travel without fuss to Hat Yai, Thailand with her friends.In a response on the issue, Selangor NRD officer Norliza Man said that the Home Ministry, not NRD, has the final say on granting citizenship.
“Normally the process will take approximately two years. The application needs to be filtered by police and other relevant agencies. That’s why it takes so long,” she told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Asked on the blue stamp which stated the result will be out before 2013, she said that the NRD has to do it “to fulfil the key performance index (KPI).”
Pressed further, she explained that the applicant could follow up the case based on the given date.
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