Senior citizen elated to receive MyKad after 40-year wait

GEORGE TOWN - After more than 40 years of waiting for an identity document, a senior citizen could heave a sigh of relief today because she finally managed to secure a MyKad.

In fact, it was more gratifying for R. Alliamah, 64, as she received her Mykad personally from National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh in a ceremony at the Penang NRD today.

Alliamah, a mother of seven, from Liberty Wood Estate, Kulim in Kedah, said she has lived without an identity document or Mykad because her family home was razed along with all personal documents after her birth.

Alliamah, the fourth of seven siblings, said she was the only one in the family who did not possess an identity document while the rest had birth certificates and also MyKad.

"When I was a child, there was a fire at home which destroyed all the important documents needed to register my birth at that time, making it difficult for me since I was a child.

"At the age of 64, I have finally obtained a Mykad today. Thank you to all the parties involved, especially the NRD for helping me. I am finally a Malaysian and can register to vote in the general election," she said here today.

In the meantime, Alliamah's son Mohd Faizal Abdullah, 45, and his late father S. Sahar Segaran who died at age 39, had exhausted all avenues to secure a valid Mykad for his wife (Alliamah) mother who works as a cook.

He said his family had also previously compiled the relevant documents for the Mykad application but all were lost in a flood when they were living in Kedah at the time.

"We seven siblings also met up with various parties including representatives of political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and so on but still failed to get a Mykad because we did not find the right channel (to apply for it). We were also cheated by agents who claimed to be able to get a MyKad for my mother," he recalled.

He said that after elaborate efforts were made, he and his mother in December last year met with NRD officials to again apply for a MyKad and after more than six months, finally today his mother succeeded in obtaining it, culminating in one of the happiest moment of their lives.

"My mother has gone through thick and thin without a MyKad despite being born a Malaysian citizen. She also had a hard time raising us without it. We would like to thank the NRD staff who made it a breeze for us, and helped my mother get the MyKad," he added.

Meanwhile, Ruslin said the Penang NRD had conducted a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test at the Penang Chemistry Department to prove the family ties between Alliamah and her siblings.

He said the NRD Late Birth Registration Committee Pane had approved the registration of her birth on March 23 after carrying out a process including interview statements, birth record searches, DNA tests, and supporting documents from Alliamah's siblings that were legal and orderly.

"The Birth Certificate (Late Birth Register) of Malaysian Citizen status was issued and handed over to her on March 24, with Alliamah applying for a Mykad on March 31. Today, she received her MyKad," he added. - BERNAMA