91yo Man From Sarawak Who Helped to Protect Country Denied Malaysian Citizenship

When it comes to the Malaysian citizenship, it appears that does who truly deserve it or should automatically be granted it, don’t end up getting it.

Meanwhile, those who haven’t really contributed to Malaysia or are not even linked to the country, happen to get it.

It was recently reported that a 91-year-old man in Sarawak was denied citizenship despite serving the country in the past.

The man named Basar Paru is a retired border scout who served during the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation and the Communist insurgency that occurred between the 1960s and late 1980s. He spent 10 years of his life patrolling the borders of Long Semado in Lawas.

Although he was born in Kalimantan, Indonesia he migrated across the border and built a home and raised his family in Sarawak since the late 1950s.

Basar’s daughter Orpah shares that her father has made multiple attempts throughout the decades to attain Malaysian citizenship but has not been successful.

She explained that her father is distressed and dreams only of being recognised as a citizen, not just for his contributions to the country but because his children and grandchildren are all Malaysians.

“He wants the blue-coloured MyKad and we as his children have to console him each time he becomes sullen whenever we tell him that his application is still being processed.”

“He had applied many times in the past with many trips to JPN (National Registration Department) Lawas and JPN Miri. Only in 2013, he was given permanent resident status or MyPR,” she said.

Orpah explained that without citizenship, Basar is unable to receive benefits such as free healthcare and welfare assistance.

“As much as we want his dream to come true, he is too old to go to JPN back and forth. In fact, he said maybe they would only approve his application when he is no longer around. How much longer does he have to wait to be given his citizenship?”

We hope that the authorities take note and do something about this as soon as possible.

Also read: M’sians Are Not Pleased That Import Football Players Would Be Receiving Citizenship