X
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
EnglishMalay
Product GuideSign in
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Project Sidekicks
    • Pregnancy
    • Losing A Baby
    • Conceiving a Baby
    • Adoption
    • Labour & Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Child
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parenting Tips
    • Marriage, Relationship & Sex
    • Viral News
  • Health
    • Illness
    • Allergy & Syndrome
    • Vaccinations
    • Give Health A Shot
  • Breastfeeding & Nutrition
    • Breastfeeding
    • Healthy Meal Tips
    • Formula
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • Special Education
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Holiday
    • Spirituality
    • Home
  • TAP Recommends
  • Press Room
  • Products
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Advertise With Us

Nearly 300,000 Stateless Children Call Malaysia Home

2 min read
Nearly 300,000 Stateless Children Call Malaysia Home

There are 290,437 stateless children residing in Malaysia currently without citizenship. Experts say statelessness leaves children vulnerable to discrimination, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.

There are 290,437 stateless children residing in Malaysia currently without citizenship.

Aged between one and 18, they were born in Malaysia but do not possess Malaysian citizenship, according to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in response to N Surendran.

When asked for the racial breakdown of these stateless children, he said that children were categorised based on their  He, however, said the race of the stateless children was not included as they were categorised based on their parents’ country of origin.

He said this to a supplementary question by Surendran on the racial breakdown of the stateless children.

“The bulk of these stateless children have parents from Indonesia, Philippines and Myanmar,” he said.

These parents are usually refugees or migrants. There are also stateless children from the remote communities in the jungle interior and the descendants of ethnic Indians who so far have not managed to obtain citizenship.

With no official status, these children cannot travel, attend government schools or use the public health system, even if adopted by a Malaysian citizen. Without documentation, they are also at risk of detention, they cannot vote and it is difficult for them to seek legal employment. 

Experts say statelessness leaves children vulnerable to discrimination, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.

The Malaysian system for obtaining citizenship is somewhat complex, and many a time, citizenship is rejected without any reason whatsoever. Some adoptive parents frustrated with the system refer to it as a "bureaucratic black hole".

Last week, it was reported that a task force has been set up to address the issue of stateless people in Sarawak.

Sarawak 4 Sarawakians chief Peter John Jaban, stated this in a joint statement with the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia).

Peter John Jaban, chief of Sarawak 4 Sarawakians states that with this task force, he hoped to have these cases solved within a month instead of waiting two years for an application to be processed in Putrajaya.

Partner Stories
Tawaran Sah Hanya Pada 11.11 Sahaja! Beli Friso Gold & Bawa Pulang Hadiah Edisi Terhad & Peluang Untuk Memenangi Baucar Pelancongan ke Belanda!
Tawaran Sah Hanya Pada 11.11 Sahaja! Beli Friso Gold & Bawa Pulang Hadiah Edisi Terhad & Peluang Untuk Memenangi Baucar Pelancongan ke Belanda!
Gaya Fesyen Trendy & Terkini, KWC Fashion Wholesale Masa Depan Fast Fashion di Malaysia
Gaya Fesyen Trendy & Terkini, KWC Fashion Wholesale Masa Depan Fast Fashion di Malaysia
Mulakan Simpanan Pendidikan & Masa Depan Anak Seawal Mungkin, Pilihlah Cara Terbaik Untuk Tabungan Konsisten
Mulakan Simpanan Pendidikan & Masa Depan Anak Seawal Mungkin, Pilihlah Cara Terbaik Untuk Tabungan Konsisten
Yogurt Lactel Kids Snek Sihat Untuk Anak Anda, Diperkaya Dengan Vitamin D & Tinggi Kalsium Bagi Menyokong Tumbesaran Tulang Si Kecil!
Yogurt Lactel Kids Snek Sihat Untuk Anak Anda, Diperkaya Dengan Vitamin D & Tinggi Kalsium Bagi Menyokong Tumbesaran Tulang Si Kecil!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Hanna Lee

  • Home
  • /
  • Gaya Hidup
  • /
  • Nearly 300,000 Stateless Children Call Malaysia Home
Share:
  • Crack Down on Human Trafficking: More than 50% Immigration Staff Replaced

    Crack Down on Human Trafficking: More than 50% Immigration Staff Replaced

  • Ambitions To Grow Taller and Healthier for Your Children

    Ambitions To Grow Taller and Healthier for Your Children

  • Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

    Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

  • Rambut Anak Lambat Tumbuh, Kulit Berkerak? Atasi Dengan Minyak Rambut Baby Yang Selamat Untuk Si Manja

    Rambut Anak Lambat Tumbuh, Kulit Berkerak? Atasi Dengan Minyak Rambut Baby Yang Selamat Untuk Si Manja

  • Crack Down on Human Trafficking: More than 50% Immigration Staff Replaced

    Crack Down on Human Trafficking: More than 50% Immigration Staff Replaced

  • Ambitions To Grow Taller and Healthier for Your Children

    Ambitions To Grow Taller and Healthier for Your Children

  • Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

    Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

  • Rambut Anak Lambat Tumbuh, Kulit Berkerak? Atasi Dengan Minyak Rambut Baby Yang Selamat Untuk Si Manja

    Rambut Anak Lambat Tumbuh, Kulit Berkerak? Atasi Dengan Minyak Rambut Baby Yang Selamat Untuk Si Manja

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Conceiving a Baby
    • Adoption
    • Pregnancy
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Marriage, Relationship & Sex
  • Baby
    • Baby Names
    • Ages & Stages
    • Parenting Tips
    • Breastfeeding & Nutrition
  • Health
    • Fitness
    • Allergy & Syndrome
    • Illness
    • Healthy Meal Tips
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • Special Education
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Holiday
    • Contests & Promotions
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
Kami ingin menghantar anda pemberitahuan untuk berita terkini dan gaya hidup terkini.