`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The end in sight for mother and daugther with MyKad woes


A happy ending is in sight for a woman and her two daughters who are fighting hard for their constitutional rights in obtaining their identity cards from the National Registration Department (NRD).
This is after the High court today adjourned the hearing of the suit by the three with a view that the matter be settled without a contest.
"The judge (Datuk Zaleha Yusof) has given the applicants and the goverment time to explore the likelihood of settling the matter without trial," said lawyer Eric Paulsen, a co-counsel for the three women.
Senior Federal Counsel Shamsul Bol Hassan also confirmed the hearing was adjourned to August 19 for parties to look into the possibility of bring the suit to a conclusion without having to go through a trial. Both parties had earlier met the judge in chambers.
Eric, who is appearing with Latheefa Koya, said they were agreeable to the proposal as it would mean their clients would obtain the MyKad.
Early this year, Zaleha  granted leave to S Letchumy, 70, and her daughters K Sarojini, 33, and Mala, 35, to procced with the judicial review over their failure to obtain their identity cards.
The three who had named the government and NRD director-general as respondents, want a declaration that they are entitled  under the Federal Constitution to obtain the MyKad.
Letchumy was born in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor while her daughters Sarojini and Mala were were born in Banting, Selangor.
They had gone to the NRD many times to apply for the MyKad but were turned away as they could not produce evidence that there are Malaysians. Letchumy, however, was recently given citizenship.
Latheefa said this was a test case as there were many people of similar predicament.
"Being a stateless person means you are deprived of basic human rights like employment, education and health facilities," she said.
She said there were many, especially the illiterate, who were born in Malaysia but did not have the necessary documents.
"They were merely given citizenship which should not be the case," she said.
Latheefa explained that only a foreigner could apply for citizenship and the government had the right to reject such an application as provided under the constitution.
"In the case of those born here, they are entitled to apply for the MyKad," she said.
She said there were many cases of people born here but were made to apply for citizenship, which is wrong.
Latheefa said all genuine cases should be accorded their rights and the government should expedite all application.
"It is an irony that the NRD could issue thousands of Mykad for foreigners in Sabah expeditiously but are dragging their feet on genuine applicants,' she added. 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.