Its great news and fantastic breakthrough, the announcement by the Deputy Education Minister, Teo Nie Ching in Kuching that stateless children in the country can now enroll in government schools beginning next year by merely producing their birth certificate.
Nie Ching said undocumented children still enroll themselves but they have two years to produce the necessary documents.
Apart from birth certificates, these children could produce either their adoption certificate if they are adopted or any court order.
It is estimated that there are about 300,000 stateless children under the age of 18 in the country.
The Education Minister, Maszlee Malik and the Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching must be commended for resolving this very nettlesome problem, as in the past, it’s quite troublesome for them to enroll in government schools.
Teo’s announcement that the new policy also applies to them continuing their studies in secondary schools, allowing them to take public exams like the PT3, SPM, STPM is also be be applauded.
The great news and fantastic breakthrough announced by Nie Ching is the New Malaysia we want to build – a New Malaysia with greater compassion and more emphasis on human rights – after the historic decision of the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018.
(Media Statement (2) by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in Gelang Patah on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018)