Father finally receives Malaysian citizenship for his children

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Joshua (centre) shows his citizenship certificate while posing for a group photograph with Madlina (right) and his uncle. – Photos by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: This year’s Chinese New Year celebration will be an auspicious one for Kuan Chan Foo and his family following the approval of Malaysian citizenship status for his four children.

Having applied for the Malaysian Citizenship under Article 15A more than five years ago, his children finally received their citizenship certificate which was presented by Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah yesterday.

The 38-year-old said he was extremely grateful to the government for the approval of citizenship as he can now finally enrol his children at national schools.

Prior to this, Kuan Sze Nyun, 13; Kuan Nin Xuan, 12; Kuan Sze Jing, 8; and Kuan Nin Le, 3; all could not attend national school and receive formal education because they were not citizens.

“I am very happy to receive this early Chinese New Year ‘gift’ and will be the happiest father when they are accepted to government schools because they now have official documents,” he told reporters when met after the ceremony.

Kuan and his wife Yue Lang, 34, were present to witness their children receiving their Malaysian citizenship certificate.

The application for citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution is for the granting of citizenship to qualified applicants who are below 21 years old.

Kuan said he had been applying for the citizenship of his children for the past five years but the applications were rejected due to incomplete information.

He is in the midst of applying for citizenship for his fifth child, now two months old.

Apart from Kuan’s children, 12-year-old Joshua Joe Jusing from Supupok, Niah in Miri also breathed a sigh of relief for he no longer has to worry about not being able to sit for his UPSR examination after receiving his Malaysian citizenship.

According to Joshua’s mother, Madlina, he was born in Solomon Islands and had applied for citizenship after returning to Sarawak when he was one year old.

“He is definitely elated that he finally received his Malaysian citizenship and furthermore, he is sitting for UPSR this year and needs personal identification documents for the exam.

“Before this, it was difficult for him to receive school assistance because he was not a citizen and I am very thankful to the government for approving his application.

“Even though we have waited for almost 11 years for this, it is definitely worth the wait,” she said.

Kuan (second right) and Yue (third right) pose for a group photo with his children after receiving the certificates.