Born in KL in 1949 but still not a citizen

KUALA LUMPUR: Kon Foo Chin, 58, has always called Malaysia home. Born in 1949 in Kuala Lumpur to a Chinese immigrant father and a Malaysian mother, Foo Chin calls himself a Malaysian – but his red identity card (IC) and the authorities say otherwise.

“He applied for citizenship in the 1960s, but the only problem was that he failed the Bahasa Malaysia test which he took as a young man.

“Not being granted citizenship has been difficult because my father does not get the same kind of privileges that citizens get. Applying and renewing passport is one example,” said his son Kek Heong, 29, when contacted Tuesday.

He said his father had filled in the application forms and attached the necessary documents, including his father's birth certificate and his grandmother's death certificate in his application for Malaysian citizenship.

He added that for the last 40 years, Foo Sin has worked as a painter. Foo Chin's five children and even his siblings all hold MyKads, but he is still waiting. And Foo Chin is not alone.

According to Federal Territory MCA Youth deputy chairman Yee Poh Ping, he estimated that some 200,000 Chinese residents in Malaysia are still holding red ICs. “Most of them are senior citizens who have been living in Malaysia for many years. Some have been here even before Independence.

“Over the years, they have paid their taxes and contributed to the Malaysian economy, and their families are all here,” he told the press yesterday.

He added that for many of them, they have no other country to call home, as many have lived here for the last four to five decades.

Yee, who initiated a week-long campaign in August to help such individuals, said he has received 485 applications so far.

“Those who have applied for citizenship have also ensured that all the documents are all in order. Some have even gone for a Bahasa Malaysia fluency test and passed.

“But every time we check with the NRD, all they say is 'Tunggu' (wait). Some have been waiting for 50 years for their citizenship, and others have died without getting their citizenship,” he said.
Yee added that he had forwarded a memorandum to MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting on Oct 9 and was informed that Deputy Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho will look into the matter.

Yee also reminded Malaysian permanent resident (PR) holders to change their red ICs and blue MyKad PR to the red MyPR by Dec 31.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/17/nation/19186566&sec=nation