Thank you: Wee (fourth from left) flanked by Zhi Long (right) and Zhi Hao, who presented him with a plaque as a symbol of gratitude for helping them to obtain their citizenship. Looking on is Pekan Nanas assemblyman Tan Eng Meng (second from left).
They finally get to celebrate Chinese New Year as Malaysian citizens
PONTIAN: This Chinese New Year is a special one for two pairs of siblings as they finally get to celebrate the festive season as “official” Malaysian citizens.
Growing up as stateless persons, Lee Zhi Long, 21, and his 18-year-old brother Zhi Hao had always faced difficulties in receiving education, healthcare and when opening bank accounts.
Their aunt, Lee Geok Duan, 64, from Kukup here, said the brothers were adopted when they were very young.
“Their adoptive parents obtained their birth certificates through the adoption channel.
“However, when the boys tried to apply for their MyKad, they met unexpected setbacks that also resulted in them losing their birth certificates.
“As such, the brothers were listed as non-Malaysian citizens and became stateless,” she said.
All these years, she and her husband, as the brothers’ aunt and uncle, had tried various ways, including hiring a lawyer, in their quest to obtain citizenship for Zhi Long and Zhi Hao.
“We went to the NRD (National Registration Department) countless times and also tried redoing the adoption procedure in the hope of giving the boys a better future, but we never received a clear answer.
“Luckily, six years ago, we sought help from the Tanjung Piai MP, who took up Zhi Long and Zhi Hao’s case immediately after hearing about our plight,” she said, referring to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.
The brothers’ long wait was finally over when they received good news from the Home Ministry that their citizenship applications had been approved.
“After so many years of stress over their citizenship issues, it feels as if a huge burden has been lifted.
“We are also thankful to Wee for his tireless efforts in getting it done after taking up the case in 2019.
“My husband and I brought Zhi Long and Zhi Hao to visit him during the second day of Chinese New Year, and the boys presented him with a special plaque as a sign of their gratitude,” she said.
Lee hopes that the new chapter will bring new possibilities for Zhi Hao, who is learning hairdressing, and Zhi Long, who is still studying.
Wee, who is also MCA vice-president, said every child deserves a bright future and hopes that the Lee brothers will seize the opportunity to work hard and pursue their dreams.
“I will also continue to fight for the rights of people in need,” he added.
Separately, in Kluang, brothers Sam Ah Fatt and Meng Kai ended their 10-year wait for their MyKad just before the arrival of the Year of the Snake.
Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi said the young men had been waiting for the day to come since 2001, a period when they made 11 attempts to apply for citizenship.
“They could not attend Year One or Two like most kids; they only started school at age nine and went straight into Year Three but this did not hold them back.
“During those uncertain years, despite the odds stacked against them, they excelled in their studies,” she said.
Wong added that 24-year-old Ah Fatt is currently pursuing a law degree while Meng Kai, 21, is studying accounting.
Wong also thanked Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for his efforts in addressing citizenship issues to resolve long-standing cases like that of the Sam brothers.
