Access to healthcare, safety main challenges faced by stateless individuals - Former stateless man

SHAH ALAM - Stateless individuals in the country face significant challenges in accessing essential services.

Former stateless man and Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) member Wong Kueng Hui highlighted that healthcare access was particularly difficult for those without an identity card (IC).@

"Recently, I had to be hospitalised for three days due to health reasons and upon discharge, I received a hospital bill which was more than RM1,000. I was taken aback by the amount, how would I afford it?

"Fortunately, as a citizen by then, I benefited from government subsidies and only had to pay RM50. If I had still been stateless, I would have faced a daunting bill that I could not possibly cover.

"I also received heartbreaking news from activist colleagues in Semporna, Sabah, about a tragic incident where a nine-month-old child died due to lack of access to healthcare at the hospital.

"The child's parents wanted to seek medical help, but encountered discrimination due to their poor status and because they do not have an IC," he said.

Wong recounted witnessing a distressing incident involving an injured man, whom he suspected was stateless, during his visit to a government hospital for an eye injury.

He said despite the man’s severe injuries, the hospital staff demanded an IC before providing treatment which was unjustifiable given the urgent need for medical attention.

This, he said highlighted the dire struggles faced by stateless individuals who were denied access to basic healthcare.

He said safety was the second critical challenge faced by stateless individuals.

"Many stateless individuals I spoken to expressed profound fear regarding their safety due to not possessing an IC.

"In Sabah, there's widespread concern about police 'checking' operations in urban areas, where officers in plain clothes conduct random checks.

"Those without an IC risk being detained along with others at police stations," he said.

Wong said stateless individuals detained in these operations feared being extorted or blackmailed for money by the authorities.

"In my hometown in Keningau, every Christmas, stateless individuals and migrant workers gather at the church to pray.

"However, authorities also monitor the area during this time, knowing that people have just received their salaries

"After church, individuals are subjected to random checks for ICs or documentation and failure to comply often leads to extortion.

"I do not intend to paint all authorities in a negative light, but unfortunately, there are some who engage in these reprehensible activities," he said.

Wong said this during the "No One is Illegal" event which was held by Muda and the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM).

Previously, it was reported that the Cabinet has decided to stop two of eight constitutional amendments on Malaysian citizenship law that would have affected foundlings in the country.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the two provisions were Section 19B of Part III of the Second Schedule and Section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

He said this was based on feedback from federal lawmakers, among others.

Saifuddin said the ministry initially intended to amend the two areas so that citizenship applications of foundlings would be by registration rather than by operation of law.