With citizenship in hand, boy can chase his football dream

A sense of belonging at last: Saifuddin handing over the citizenship letter to an elated Muhammad Danish. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: After six years of applying for citizenship, 10-year-old Muhammad Danish Haiqal, finally got his approval letter from the Home Ministry.

His adoptive mother, Hazlina Hamzah, 49, has been applying for his citizenship since 2018.

“I waited for a long time, and called many times to follow up about his application status,” she said, adding that she was grateful for the help rendered by NGOs.

The letter of approval for Muhammad Danish’s citizenship was finally given to him yesterday in the presence of Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Hazlina has taken care of the boy since he was three months old, first as a nanny but later adopted the child.

“After court procedures and interviews, I adopted Muhammad Danish, and it was also with his mother’s consent,” she said.

Muhammad Danish’s biological mother is Malaysian, however, she did not apply for an identity card for him and he also does not have a birth certificate.

Without citizenship, added Hazlina, Muhammad Danish faced obstacles with schooling and for medical help.

“There will be more obstacles for him in the future if he does not get citizenship. After adopting him, I started the application process for citizenship,” she said.

Now, with the approval letter, Muhammad Danish holds Malaysian citizenship and can pursue his dreams to be a national football player.

Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz said with the citizenship, Muhammad Danish will have more opportunities available to him.

“We as a society should see stateless people as people who we look at, highlight and talk about.

“This is a systemic, legal and legislation problem, issues that the government has to resolve, and they have the authority to do so,” said the Malaysian Red Crescent Society national chairman.

At the event, Saifuddin Nasution said that Muhammad Danish has eight other siblings, and is the first to get Malaysian citizenship, while the others are still stateless.

He has promised to look into the citizenship applications of his siblings.

He added that of the 16,000 stateless children reported by NGOs, there are only 9,000 stateless remaining, and he is willing to hear from all parties about the citizenship law amendments.

Saifuddin Nasution also said he would consider proposals made by Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus during their meeting two days ago.

“One of our agreements is on citizenship applications. The Home Ministry needs to establish a standard operating procedure for citizenship applications,” he said.

Earlier at the Dewan Rakyat, after being reviewed by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC), the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act amendments were passed.

The Bill was tabled for the second and third reading by Saifuddin Nasution yesterday. The Bill was passed through a voice vote.

At a press conference later, Saifuddin Nasution thanked MPs for unanimous support in passing the amendments.

He highlighted the transition phase where drug dependants would be sent for rehabilitation instead of imprisonment.

“It also won’t be solely at National Anti-Drugs Agency centres but also private drug rehabilitation centres,” he said.

The Minister also pointed out the decriminalisation aspect of the amendments, saying this will further encourage those entangled with substance abuse to come forward voluntarily for rehabilitation.