Four Little Indians : their story, their plight, their future??

Kumaran (9), Surai Kumar (9), Alageswary (8) and Kalaiyarasan (6)

True story – the reality

Kumaran is nine years old. He is bright. He speaks well and very alert. He is now in primary school. However it was only when his two aunties came and spoke that one begins to understand the complex nature of his difficulties.

Kumaran’s dad, Mr Murugan Comarasamy (33) passed away when he was three years old and his mother Rajeswary Ramasamy left the home that very month. Kumaran has three other siblings Surai Kumar (9), Alageswary (8) and Kalaiyarasan (6). Three of the kids are living with their aunthy who is the older sister to their dad and the youngest is living with another of their dad’s brother and his wife.

All four children are living with their relatives at the Desa Mentari 2 flats. Last evening (Jan 13, 2011) when Dato Siva and Datuk Denison visited the flats, the two aunties told the plight of these kids to them.

On further hearing their stories, the complications begin. In the case of Kumaran he does not have a birth certificate. At the point of his birth they were living at Bahau at Getco estate.  Fortunately for him they still have his mother’s medical check up and delivery card and therefore we can trace the birth to the hospital and maternity clinic there.

Two of his siblings Surai Kumar and Alageswary have the birth certificates. They were born in Selangor and their father managed to secure it. However there are complications with the fourth child Kalaiyarasan. His dad passed away a month after his birth and also his mum left the family and cannot be contacted.

In the case of Kalaiyarasan the relative has managed to secure a birth certificate for him but his status as a citizen has not been confirmed as both parents are not around. The family has made an appeal to Registration Department since 2008 but they are finding it difficult to convince them that these two boys are Malaysian citizens.

Some reflections & lessons

As one reflects of this true story a number of thoughts come to my mind writes Denison Jayasooria:-

First, it is true to say that we will only be able to identify the people in need if we go to the grassroots. These kids live in a highly densely populated flats of 1,100 units where Indian family comprise over 50% ie 600 families with an estimate of 3,000 Indians. Out there among the crowds are people in need requiring assistance. Both women who came with the four children have many other local commitments and will find it difficult to go many different times to an agency office to sort out the documentation issues. However on hearing that we were at their flats they came and presented their case which they are unable to solve on their own.

Second, in real life there are so many complications. The four children will face the hard reality of life without their natural parents and furthermore being undocumented will really mean they are not only stateless, they have no rights and no future. It is no fault of them as they are just children, however their whole future is at stake.

Third, there is an absence of local leaders who are well informed and who can serve as a liaison between the local neighborhood and the government agencies. Federal government must establish community advice centers and this neighborhood of just 2 blocks of flats with 1,100 units have a population of over 5,000 people. Surrounding the area are also so many flats with a high density of people who are low income as these are all low cost flats and people who have been were recently resettled from squatter areas in Petaling Jaya to this permanent dwelling. Therefore local community formation and local leadership development is imperative.

Fourth, the families have been in contact with the Registration Department since 2008. The two boys from among the four can not be foreign kids. They both have General Hospital cards with the mother and father’s name. Two other kids have full documents. The relevant government agencies including the Registration Department and the Social Welfare Department should have really undertaken the processing with some urgency as this is the Right of a child and all are still under 10 years of age. Their foundational primary education is essential but now is at stake without documentation as citizens.

Now that these families have appealed to the Taskforce, both Dato Siva and Datuk Denison will make a personal appeal to both KDN and JPN before the campaign period to settle this as soon as possible. According to Denison he is confident that the relevant agencies will act with speed and compassion to set this wrong - right.

Fifth, as the Taskforce secretariat travel around and visits local communities we are able to uncover many cases. Some really complicated, some tragic, some really sad. However what is imperative now is in the time of our Prime Minister Najib we must identify all the cases and bring them to public light especially to take account of the size of the problem and ensure that each and every case is solved and ensure all Malaysian Indians posses the relevant documentation as full Malaysia citizens.

“Support ‘mydaftar campaign’ – Feb 19 to 26, 2011 at 9 states & 30 districts.”