Siraanjivi (right) presents the award to Sheila in recognition of her dedication to helping five stateless siblings. — Courtesy photo
A RETIRED newspaper editor who opened her home to five stateless children and persevered through the arduous process of securing citizenship for them has received the “Extra Mile” Award from the Rotary Club of Ara Damansara (RCAD).
For Sheila Rahman Natarajan, an ex-editor of Sunday Mail, it has been eight long years of challenges in looking after the well-being of the five siblings as well as battling bureaucracy in her relentless pursuit of rightful citizenship for them.
The last two of the five received their long-coveted MyKad in September.
Sheila was awarded the unique accolade from RCAD at its 9th Installation Dinner.
RCAD president Siraanjivi Ganasan presented its inaugural “Extra Mile” Award to Sheila, honouring her tireless humanitarian efforts that helped the five finally becoming Malaysians.
“The club created this ‘Extra Mile’ Award to honour individuals who exemplify compassion and perseverance beyond the call of duty,” he said.
“Sheila’s story is a powerful example of what one person’s persistence and compassion can achieve.
“Her unwavering compassion and extraordinary persistence indeed embody our Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’.
“We admire her diligence and stamina throughout these years. We’re sure she will continue to inspire others to walk the ‘Extra Mile’ for humanity and make our world a better place,” he said.
Siraanjivi said RCAD was happy it was able to lighten Sheila’s heavy burden through contributions in short-term meal subsidies for the family and computers for school work over the years.
Present to witness the award presentation were the five children, now aged 13 to 20, and their father.
Gracing the installation dinner were Rotary District 3300 governor Edward Khoo and several past district governors.
Aunty Sheila, as RCAD Rotarians call her, got involved in 2017 when she joined her neighbours in helping a struggling family of five stateless children after their mother disappeared, leaving their father, a daily wage earner, to care for them alone.
What started out as a simple act of kindness soon became a long-term mission, providing the children with food, education and a sense of family while working tirelessly to secure their legal identity.
For eight years, Sheila accompanied the children and their father through countless visits to the Welfare Department, National Registration Department, and even ministerial offices, ensuring that every legal step was fulfilled.
Their efforts led to mandatory court-sanctioned guardianship in 2019. This was followed by securing late-registered “Bukan Warganegara” (Non-Citizen) birth certificates for these children in 2021.
After a thorough assessment by the Welfare Department, they achieved legal adoption in 2022 by their father, a prerequisite for citizenship applications.
Sheila’s perseverance was finally rewarded on Sept 22, 2025, when the youngest two children received their MyKad, and were officially recognised as citizens of Malaysia.
“Each step required immense patience, paperwork and persistence,” said Sheila.
“We just kept walking the extra mile, one step at a time, until we finally achieved our goal.”
While surprised by the award and fighting back tears, Sheila described the moment as “a little bittersweet”.
“This is a happy ending for my ‘children’, but I know there are still thousands of others, children and adults, who remain in limbo.
“I hope their turn will come too,” she said.
In 2023, Sheila was also recognised by her journalistic fraternity when the National Press Club bestowed the National Press Club of Malaysia-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award, which honoured her compassionate advocacy for the stateless community.
