Going through the right channel

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STATELESS denizens should go through valid organisations instead of seeking help from unauthorised “middlemen” to get their citizenship, said Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam, the national coordinator for Special Implementation Task Force for Indians.

The Government, he said, was trying its best to help those facing difficulty in getting their birth certificate or citizenship.

“At the same time, they must do their part to reach us through valid organisations like the MIC and MCA,” he told reporters after witnessing the presentation of birth certificates and citizenship to 31 people in Ipoh last week.

A relief: Eswaran and his wife are happy that their children finally have birth certificates.

Siva Subramaniam said the Government’s MyDaftar programme, which was implemented in February, had successfully paved the way for the less educated to obtain their citizenship.

“Previously, there had been a lot of rules and regulations, which posed as a hurdle for the less educated.

“With the MyDaftar programme, the application process has been made easier after certain improvisations were put in place,” he said.

The programme, he added, had been a remarkable move as it had brought about progress and dignity to a large group of people.

M. Eswaran, 31, heaved a sigh of relief when he received the birth certificates of his six children from state MIC chairman Datuk S. Veerasingam.

“I am unable to read and write. Thankfully, the head of the National Registration Department in Parit Buntar was very kind and patient.

“She guided me every step of the way,” Eswaran said when relating his experience in applying for his children’s birth certificates under the programme.

Finally: Some of the proud, new official citizens of Malaysia holding up their citizenship certificates.

Single mother Premjeet Kaur, 31, who worked at an electrical appliance shop in Taiping, said she was unable to get financial assistance for her children from the welfare department as she had not registered their births.

“I am grateful to the MIC for assisting me throughout the application process,” she added.

Mohd Shukri Abdullah, 50, said he had trouble applying for birth certificates for all five of his children due to his conversion to Islam.

“Until the MyDaftar programme was introduced, there were a lot of complications in our applications,” he said.