We take for granted an ID card or IC. But when someone who has spent their whole life waiting for one, we may realise how fortunate we are! Imagine being born and raised in Malaysia, going to local schools, speaking the language, celebrating the same festivals …. yet being told, on paper, that you don’t belong. This isn’t a rare story.
An
anonymous individual shared a heartbreaking story that he was born in Malaysia
but was never recognized as a Malaysian citizen. While others celebrate
receiving their MYKid and then receiving MyKad at 12 years old, this person
grew up holding only a birth certificate marked “Bukan
Warganegara”. Despite being born in a Malaysian hospital, attending
local schools, and speaking the same languages, he spent his entire life
feeling like a stranger.
Source: https://www.wikiimpact.com
Whenever some people talked about identity cards, this affected person (say, Ah Chong for this article) quietly shrank away from the conversation, afraid of the stares, the pity, or worse the judgment. For Form 3 exams, everyone presented their ICs, but Ah Chong had to hand over a wrinkled birth certificate instead.
And yet, amidst all the frustration, there are moments of grace. In school, true friends stood-by him treating him as one of them, even helping to research ways to appeal for citizenship. As Ah Chong grew older, more kind souls appeared, “angels,” who gave guidance, encouragement, and hope. Even though the waiting continues, gratitude remains. Because he has learned that he is not alone, there are still many others just like him, born on this land but still fighting to be seen as part of it.
This story isn’t about self-pity; it’s about resilience. Every case, every name, every effort matters. Of course, if you are a naturalised footballer for the national team, then things get done much faster!
Reference:
No IC,
No Country. The Reality of Being Born in Malaysia Without Citizenship, Jovy Jing, https://newswav.com, 22 October 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment