AFTER a decade of uncertainty, Lau Wei Wei finally has a MyKad bearing the ‘K’ prefix indicating she is a Sarawak native.
“For 20 years I have wondered if I could board a plane.
“Now I can, and I can also continue my studies,” said the 20-year-old.
She was presented with the card by state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Michael Tiang following assistance from his Pelawan Service Centre.
Lau had struggled to obtain the card due to complications surrounding the status of her parents.
While her father is Malaysian, her mother remains stateless despite being from Sarawak, which hindered Lau’s MyKad application.
“Because of that, she faced a lot of difficulties in obtaining a MyKad ‘K’,” Tiang told reporters at his service centre.
He said efforts were ongoing to help Lau’s mother secure an identity card with support from Kapitan So Teck Kee and Penghulu Ting Tien Huat.
Tiang said these were not isolated cases and required continued attention.
“Those born in Malaysia with at least one Sarawakian parent are eligible to obtain a MyKad with the ‘K’ prefix.
“It allows the holder to access various forms of state government assistance, particularly in education and welfare.”
He added that those aged 21 and below could apply under provisions in the Federal Constitution, while those older must undergo a more complex process.
Lau said she hoped her mother would soon be granted an identity card to end the family’s long-standing struggles.
