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PENAMPANG: The Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) needs a complete overhaul, said Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
In reference to the plight of 78-year-old Yong Lee Hua who was issued permanent resident (PR) status after losing her MyKad last year, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the goverment could not be in denial over the matter and that the system needed to be fixed. Dompok, who is also United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president, said: “The government wants a first-class delivery system but it’s not working. It needs fixing, a complete revamp. “It’s a big shame for NRD to allow a person (Yong) with citizenship and a MyKad, only to have it taken away and given a permanent resident status instead,” he told reporters at a press conference here on Monday. What happened to Yong was unfair, said Dompok, as she owned Native Title (NT) land, was a registered voter and was born well before Malaysia was formed. “She should rightfully be a citizen, no question about it. The government department is supposed to look at it but it’s not working,” he said. During the press conference, Moyog Assemblyman Donald Datuk Peter Mojuntin who is also Upko’s bureau chief for citizenship and security, introduced two others who faced a similar predicament in getting their MyKads. They are Alice Chui Pee, 52, and Stephen George. Chui, a green identity card holder, was born in Singapore in 1956 when her parents from Papar went to work in the republic. She returned to Sabah three years later, and her parents applied for her citizenship and made numerous appeals but were unsuccessful. Her two siblings each hold a PR status and a MyKad. Stephen, meanwhile, holds a PR status and has applied for citizenship since 1975. The only response he received was that his application was under process and during his last check, the NRD staff told him his application was now with the police and the process might take a year. Stephan was born in Brunei in 1956, but returned to Sabah in 1958. Referring to the two cases, Dompok said this did not require new policies and the government policy on the matter was clear. “The saddest part is that there are people who can walk into the country through the backdoor and still get their ICs (identity cards). “I will take action and help, whatever it takes. I will bring it up to the Cabinet,” said Dompok. - Bernama
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