TAWAU: A briefing programme aimed at resolving documentation issues for residents entitled to Malaysian citizenship was held in the Kalabakan parliamentary constituency on Sunday, with focus on those lacking identity documents despite being legally eligible.
Kalabakan Member of Parliament Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy said Tawau, which includes Kalabakan, has an estimated population of over 500,000, with about 300,000 being citizens and the remainder consisting of non-citizens, including legal and illegal immigrants.
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He noted that a portion of the population lacks documentation despite being eligible for Malaysian citizenship when one parent holds a MyKad.
However, failure to register marriages or births has resulted in children growing up without birth certificates and identity cards.
“The main causes include unregistered village marriages, remote and inaccessible kampung locations, financial constraints and time factors. As a result, these children grow up without documents and are denied access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities,” he said.
He said the programme is a first step to obtain comprehensive data to identify the actual number of undocumented individuals who qualify for citizenship and to determine the root causes of documentation failures involving either marriage or birth certificates.
The programme involved 37 village heads from across the Kalabakan parliamentary constituency, covering four state constituencies, along with the district chief, native chiefs and native chief representatives who were briefed on relevant information and required actions.
Additionally, he also pointed out the importance of marriage registration to protect women’s rights, particularly regarding maintenance and legal protection.
“This involves bureaucracy between what is valid religiously and what is valid legally. We need a holistic and comprehensive solution so that those who are eligible receive proper protection,” he said.
He hopes that Kalabakan would serve as a pilot model for implementing similar programmes in other areas in future, with cooperation from various agencies including the National Registration Department, Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department, Home Ministry and related departments.
“When they have documents, these eligible individuals will gain access to employment, minimum wage and a more secure life. Their rights will no longer be denied,” he said.
He said that accurate data collection is key to formulating a solution and facilitating processes for both citizens and government agencies in addressing statelessness issues effectively.
