I AM writing to not only express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude towards the current Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, but to let everyone know what he has done for countless parents such as I in the quest of my adopted child’s citizenship.
Finding our family: My journey as a parent began almost 10 years ago upon being blessed with a daughter given for both me and my husband to raise well.
It was a joyous moment for us yet filled with trepidation and uncertainty because despite bringing joy, her future remained uncertain as a stateless individual.
I have never once imagined that the path to citizenship approval will be filled with challenges that we can’t control as parents.
We were informed that the fastest application approval will be 1-year from the acceptance of documents.
A year passed by speedily and when it was time to check the status, we were told that our case was being reviewed and awaiting a decision from the then home minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
His role then shifted to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin in mid 2018. Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin took on the role subsequently and our application status remained the same throughout the many years of these ministers with the same response from the Home Ministry.
Whenever we check on our case, we will be told that our application is being processed and as soon as there is a decision we will be notified by official mail.
I am not sure whether anyone understands the agony of waiting for a process which stretches from one year to three years and to nine years.
And over the years, we have given up hope to raise our daughter to be a part of a country that she can be proud of and in the end contribute to.
Her future then remained bleak, with no hope of being able to join a public school, opening a bank account, travel out of peninsular, a sense of belonging as a citizen and all the other benefits that a normal citizen takes for granted most of their lives.
A new chapter unfolds: Towards the end of 2022, when Saifuddin took over as Home Minister and proclaimed through the media his stand on the amendment of citizenship in Malaysia.
We began to believe that perhaps this Home Minister really cares.
And true enough, we received a letter from the Home Ministry a year after he was appointed as minister and we finally received the news of our application and it was approved!
Beyond our family: Being granted citizenship goes beyond legal transformation, it marks a transformative moment in our lives and the lives of countless others like us who have benefited from the minister’s unwavering commitment to justice and inclusivity which I pray will lead to a stronger and harmonious nation.
Here, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Saifuddin and his team for their dedicated efforts and thoughtful consideration.
I have to say that he is the ‘best’ example’ of a Home Minister that puts actions into his words and gets things done and at the same time understands the plight of the nation.
His decision and his work offers a beacon of hope, demonstrating that the Madani government embraces the dreams and aspirations of all its members, regardless of their origins.
I remain confident that my daughter will flourish within the fabric of Malaysian society, contributing her talents and values to its continued progress and prosperity. – January 7, 2024
Tai Lee Sar is a grateful mother and educator