Facilitate citizenship process, KDMs told
Published on: Saturday, July 14, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah People's Rights Association Chairman Lee Pun Yee has questioned the sincerity and commitment of the Kadazandusun Muruts (KDMs) to resolve the stateless children issue in the State."I suggest to the KDMs to facilitate the process of citizenship application for the sake of humanity," he said in a statement, Friday."Furthermore, KDMs have special powers under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution to help children under the age of 21."
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During a roundtable discussion hosted by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Sabah branch here, Friday, Lee said in Sabah alone, there are 800 families who are facing identification problem due to the lateness or ignorance of parents to register their marriages."These innocent children do not have a bright future as they will miss out on formal education and employment opportunities."Even though the parents had registered their marriages and submitted the late applications for their children to the Home Ministry, these applications were not approved and without them being informed on the necessary documents to support their applications," he said.Meanwhile, Sabah Suhakam Secretary Jasmih Slamat said the number of stateless children as a result of mixed marriages in Sabah is worrying.
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