TUMPAT: For Eh Chum Chai Di, it was ‘all like a dream’.
1MALAYSIA SPIRIT: Hishammuddin (seated third left) shouting the 1Malaysia slogan with Malaysian nationals of Siamese descent during the Malaysian Nationality Entitlement at Wat Pikhun Thong, Kampung Terbok. — Bernama photo
The 78-year-old resident of Siamese descent of Kampung Jubakar here did not think he would one day become a citizen of Malaysia.
He said he had applied ‘more than thrice’ to the Home Ministry for citizenship status.
Eh Chum was one of 89 people of Siamese descent who received their citizenship papers from Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein at ‘a historic occasion’ at Wat Phikun Thong, here.
“I had applied a very long time ago. I did not feel I was Malaysian. It is a different feeling today; I am of 1Malaysia,” he said showing the thumbs-up sign to reporters.
Eh Deng Chau Ren, 74, said he did not think that the prime minister’s visit on July 15 could have resulted in him getting his citizenship papers yesterday.
“I have been a supporter of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government all along. Today, I am happy. It
is true that the BN never break a promise,” said the resident of Kampung Repek, Tiong, Pasir Mas.
Eh Deng, who has five children, said he had applied for citizenship twice.
Mek Kedaing Cha Mid, 68, expressed her gratitude to Pengkalan Kubor state assemblyman Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, saying he had helped the community a lot.
“He is a good assemblyman; that’s why we support the BN. And, we have a prime minister who understands our needs,” she said.
Cha On Buateng alias Aminah Abdullah, 54, who hails from Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, and has lived in Malaysia for more than 20 years was also grateful for having become a citizen.
The wife of Ghana national Mohamad Michael, 58, said the prosperity they attained living here had made them want to be Malaysian citizens.
Kelantan Siamese Community Association chairman Eh Chot Cha Chan said 99 per cent of the applicants had received their citizen papers.
He said the more than 5,000 people of Siamese descent in Kelantan did not believe that any party other than the BN could have help them realised their dream. — Bernama