Although my birth right and what is stated in my Mykad tells the whole wide world that I'm a Malaysian, I can't help feeling that the many instances of PR applications by foreigners married to Malaysian citizens who faced the daunting task of going to the National Registration Department (NRD) year after year without fail to renew their visa.
Two cases I like to relate here. And it happened to people I personally dealt with in the course of my work.
Case 1 - Filipino lady married to a Malaysian chinese man
Having completed their studies in the US, both returned to their own country and continued with their relationship thru phones, letters and a visit for another 3 years before they finally agreed to tie the matrimony knot in 1995. Both are qualified professionals in their own rights.
The woman began her PR application process in 1997 after staying in the country for 2 years. Over the years, they have giving birth to two lovely boys. Both registered as Malaysian citizen.
Ten years later, by now 2007, the woman is still waiting for her application for permanent residency to be approved.
I do not know what became of them since then after leaving the company where I worked with her husband.
Case 2 - Filipino lady married to a Malaysian muslim man
Upon finishing their studies in the UK, they continued to stay on in UK and worked there for two years before returning to Malaysia where they got married. Both husband and wife venture into business with the husband father's help while the wife helps with the daily administration of the company. The business was mediocre so to speak but sufficient to afford them a comfortable lifestyle and gradual savings for the family.
Within the same year, the lady submitted their application for permanent residency after converting to islam. After two years of waiting, they received good news that the wife application was successful. That was in 2003.
Two cases I like to relate here. And it happened to people I personally dealt with in the course of my work.
Case 1 - Filipino lady married to a Malaysian chinese man
Having completed their studies in the US, both returned to their own country and continued with their relationship thru phones, letters and a visit for another 3 years before they finally agreed to tie the matrimony knot in 1995. Both are qualified professionals in their own rights.
The woman began her PR application process in 1997 after staying in the country for 2 years. Over the years, they have giving birth to two lovely boys. Both registered as Malaysian citizen.
Ten years later, by now 2007, the woman is still waiting for her application for permanent residency to be approved.
I do not know what became of them since then after leaving the company where I worked with her husband.
Case 2 - Filipino lady married to a Malaysian muslim man
Upon finishing their studies in the UK, they continued to stay on in UK and worked there for two years before returning to Malaysia where they got married. Both husband and wife venture into business with the husband father's help while the wife helps with the daily administration of the company. The business was mediocre so to speak but sufficient to afford them a comfortable lifestyle and gradual savings for the family.
Within the same year, the lady submitted their application for permanent residency after converting to islam. After two years of waiting, they received good news that the wife application was successful. That was in 2003.
Can anyone tell me if they are any significance to my posting of this and if there existed any bias in term of race category? Why both cases seemed to warrant differing merit on the part of NRD?
While immigrants to our country with intention to settle here due to matrimony ties, we are also hearing the same predicament of our very own people. The Sabah Daily Express reported today, after controversies of "missing" citizens in East Malaysia being highlighted in the past few weeks.
More citizen grievance
- Daily Express, Sabah
While immigrants to our country with intention to settle here due to matrimony ties, we are also hearing the same predicament of our very own people. The Sabah Daily Express reported today, after controversies of "missing" citizens in East Malaysia being highlighted in the past few weeks.
More citizen grievance
- Daily Express, Sabah
More citizenship cases involving locals in rural areas are being unearthed and some are considering filing legal action against the National Registration Department (NRD).
Veteran politician Dr Chong Eng Leong said the people he met during a visit to Ranau on Sunday wanted to take legal action because they felt victimised since "they believe they are entitled to be citizens by operation of law".
Speaking at a Press conference, Tuesday, Dr Chong said among those who had met him in Ranau were two Orang Sungai brothers aged 27 and 30 who despite having original birth certificates registered few days after birth in Kampung Diwara, Penangah, had their status written as "Temporary Resident".
Accompanied by their mother, he said their other siblings are all Malaysians.
Another case involved two sisters, Siew Yin @Chong Ah Kun and KimLing @Chong Kim Leen who are holding Permanent Resident (PR) status.
Dr Chong said Siew Yin was born before independence in 1941 in Ranau and has a Native Declaration Certificate (Sijil Anak Negeri) No. 40/72 Ranau. She also has a late registration birth certificate.
"She told me she was asked to apply for citizenship in 2000 because her case was classified under Article 15 (1), which is citizenship by registration since she is the wife of a citizen.
"The sad thing is that when her husband passed away in 2006 she was informed that her application was rejected because her husband was dead.
"She was in tears and I understand her feeling. Do you think it is easy for those living in remote areas to come down to the NRD frequently?," he asked.
Siew Yin's sister, KimLing who was born in 1951 also in Ranau had her first IC in the mid 1960s but she only came to know about her PR status in 1974 when the IC was replaced. "All their other siblings are Malaysians," said Dr Chong.
Other cases included Chia Siew Fah, a Sino-Kadazan born in 1949 in Ranau and holder of a Sijil Anak Negeri but also given PR status.
Dr Chong said a 13-year-old Ranau-born girl also met him seeking assistance after her application for an IC could not be processed even though her father is a Malaysian citizen.
The application was not processed because her mother was not a citizen.
"Her mother is an Indonesian who is in the State legally and having a work pass. However, by operation of law, the girl is a citizen of Malaysia since one of her parents is a Malaysian. Furthermore she was born here," said Dr Chong.
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