Lee Kim Shin discussing with Affrizan and the children Vincent, 10, Zoey, 8 (in pink) and Eliza, 7.
MIRI: Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) is appealing to Putrajaya to expedite the documents for stateless children in Sarawak - and to allow them to start schooling while these citizenship woes are being sorted out.
SUPP vice-president Datuk Lee Kim Shin is trying to secure schooling for three stateless kids in Miri who are orphans at the Miri Methodist Children Home.
The home last year took in these three kids, Vincent, 10, Zoey, 8 and Eliza, 7, whose parents had abandoned them.
However they have no proper birth certificate because their parents did not register their birth.
The home sought the help of Lee who is state assemblyman for Senadin after they were unable enrol them for the new school year due to the document woes.
Lee is arranging for these kids to meet with the Miri Education Department officers on Thursday morning.
He also sought help from the National Registration Department mobile unit head Affrizan Bujang.
Lee said SUPP Miri will also appeal directly to Home Ministry and the Education Ministry to give special consideration to these stateless kids.
"I am raising the matter directly to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi who is also Home Minister.
"These stateless children are facing citizenship woes because of the carelessness of their parents.
"These children are innocent. Their future should not be put in jeopardy.
"I am bringing up these cases to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi who have already helped resolved a number of similar cases of stateless folks in Sarawak.
"While this citizenship issue is being sorted out, I have appealed to the Miri Education Department to allow these three kids to be enrolled in school since this is the start of the new school year.
"Let them start their education now even as their citizenship is being processed by the NRD," said Lee.
He urge Putrajaya to look at these citizenship dilemma with urgency, especially those involving children.
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