Sabah has a huge population of stateless children and migrant refugees
KOTA KINABALU: Scores of Sabah children in education limbo due to uncertainty over their nationality can soon head back to the classrooms.
That is, if one of their parents can show that he or she is a Malaysian with the necessary documented proof from the National Registration Department.
Deputy Education Ministry Datuk Wee Ka Siong said the ministry director-general would issue a circular to all schools in the wake of the Cabinet decision on the matter.
“This issue had been repeatedly brought up by Sabah MPs in Parliament and the Government has made a decision on it,” he said after the SJKC Yue Min primary school ground-breaking ceremony in Penampang near here yesterday.
State Finance Assistant Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan had lamented the “policy” among schools to turn away children who have the word “undetermined” written in the column for citizenship in their temporary identification documents.
He said the process of getting an identity card from the department took time and such a policy hindered these children from acquiring the benefits of an education that would guide their future.
While the problem was prevalent in many Sabah districts, he said that, for some reason, east coast Tawau was getting the brunt of it.
Yesterday, Wee said the Education Ministry had deployed a special research team to conduct a pilot study to determine the number of children in the east coast Semporna district.
He said the Government’s decision would not cause a sudden influx of immigrant children into Malaysian schools:
“We are simply abiding by Unesco’s principle that children deserve an education.”
Courtesy of: Malaysian Sunday Star
That is, if one of their parents can show that he or she is a Malaysian with the necessary documented proof from the National Registration Department.Deputy Education Ministry Datuk Wee Ka Siong said the ministry director-general would issue a circular to all schools in the wake of the Cabinet decision on the matter.
“This issue had been repeatedly brought up by Sabah MPs in Parliament and the Government has made a decision on it,” he said after the SJKC Yue Min primary school ground-breaking ceremony in Penampang near here yesterday.
State Finance Assistant Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan had lamented the “policy” among schools to turn away children who have the word “undetermined” written in the column for citizenship in their temporary identification documents.He said the process of getting an identity card from the department took time and such a policy hindered these children from acquiring the benefits of an education that would guide their future.
While the problem was prevalent in many Sabah districts, he said that, for some reason, east coast Tawau was getting the brunt of it.
Yesterday, Wee said the Education Ministry had deployed a special research team to conduct a pilot study to determine the number of children in the east coast Semporna district.He said the Government’s decision would not cause a sudden influx of immigrant children into Malaysian schools:
“We are simply abiding by Unesco’s principle that children deserve an education.”
Courtesy of: Malaysian Sunday Star
Sunday, 22 February, 2009
with this new ruling, many illegal immigrants will find out (no matter what) ways to put their children into malaysian schools
Sunday, 22 February, 2009
Well said Johnny,
I am hoping, those YBs had taken into consideration your intelligent point into their account.
However, as I see it, they are facing great pressure from all over.
Namely pressure from group like International Amnesty, ASEAN counterparts, Political Opposition and foes, NGOs and many-many more.
For now, I guess, let wait and see how they could manage in sorting out this complex mess.
Thanks for the good comments. You are always welcome.
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