Campaign to resolve Indians' MyKad woes

The government will launch a nationwide 'My Daftar' campaign from Feb 19 to 26, 2011 in an effort to resolve the problems faced by Indian Malaysians who do not have relevant documents pertaining to their birth, identification and citizenship, said Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam today.

He said the campaign, organised by the special implementation taskforce on the Indian community in collaboration with the Home Ministry, would among others, seek to identify individuals who possess a birth certificate but have not applied for a 'MyKad', and those who do not possess a birth certificate and therefore unable to secure a 'MyKad'.

“The campaign will also target children who do not possess a birth certificate and therefore unable to go to school as well as children and young people in residential homes run by the Social Welfare Department and voluntary organisations who do not possess sufficient documentation,” said Subramaniam, who is also the taskforce chairperson and MIC deputy president.

He said the campaign was also targeted at individuals above 55 years of age, who were born in Malaya, and who possess a red identification card and those who have applied for citizenship.

“During the campaign period, the Registration Department office in 30 towns in nine states namely Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor, will set up special counters to process applicants from the Indian community,” he said.

He said earlier this year, the taskforce through a series of 'meet the people sessions' have already identified 902 cases of Indians who have difficulties in securing the relevant documentation.

Advertising blitz

Subramaniam said they were currently at various stages of being processed by the taskforce and Registration Department.

“This is a major effort on the part of the federal government to come to grips with an age old problem which is a major grievance among a sizable section of the Indian community,” he said.

Through this campaign, he said the government was seeking a permanent solution to all Malaysian Indians who were not able to secure the necessary documents thus far.

“I thank the Home Ministry and the Department of Registration for their partnership and cooperation,” he said, adding that the taskforce together with its supporting organisations would launch an aggressive media campaign through the print media, radio, TV and internet including the support and cooperation of the Information Department.

He said the taskforce consultant Siva Subramaniam would be serving as the campaign coordinator.

Those interested to know more about this campaign could contact the taskforce secretariat officers, Mrs Premala at 03-88711280 or 03-88711371 or Mr Thana at 016-295 7172.  – Bernama

CAMPAIGN MY DAFTAR

YM Dato Raja Azahar, Deputy Home Affairs Secretary General chairing the Campaign

The Special Implementation Taskforce on the Indian Community together with the Ministry of Home Affairs launches a nationwide campaign from 19 to 26 February 2011. The objective is to document all undocumented Malaysian Indians who do not have relevant documents pertaining to their birth, identification and citizenship.

For a start the ‘My Daftar’ will seek to identify:

• Individuals who possess a birth certificate but have not applied for a ‘my card’
• Individuals who do not possess a birth certificate and therefore unable to secure a ‘my card’
• Children who do not possess a birth certificate and therefore unable to go to school
• Children and young people in residential homes run by the Social Welfare Department and voluntary organizations who do not possess sufficient documentation
• Individuals above 55 years of age, who were born in Malaya and who possess a red identification card
• Individuals who have applied for citizenship

YB Datuk Dr Subramaniam stated “that this is a major effort on the part of the Federal government to come to grips with an age old problem which is a major grievance among a sizable section of the Indian community. Through this campaign we are seeking to find a permanent solution to all Malaysian Indians who were not been able to secure the necessary documents thus far. He went on to thank the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Registration for their partnership and cooperation”

The Taskforce which was established by the Prime Minister has been holding a series of meetings with officials with the Home Affairs Ministry and Registration Department. In addition, earlier this year the Taskforce through a series of ‘meet the people sessions’ have already identified 902 cases of Malaysian Indians who have difficulties in securing the relevant documentation. These are currently at various stages of being processed by the Taskforce and Registration Department.

Dr Denison, Dato Raja Azhar & Dato Siva at Home Affairs Meeting held on Dec 29, 2010

Yesterday (Dec 29, 2010) YM Dato Raja Azahar bin Raja Abdul Manap (Deputy Home Affairs Secretary General) chaired a special meeting which was attended by all the Registration Departments State Directors and Indian community leaders from the MIC and relevant Indian NGOs (Hindu Sangam, DHRRA Malaysia & Tamil Foundation).  The Taskforce secretary Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria and Taskforce Consultant, Dato Siva Subramaniam presented a framework paper which was accepted by this special campaign committee.

Among the campaign strategies agreed upon are:-

• During the campaign period from Feb 19 to 26, 2011 the Registration Department office in thirty town in nine states (Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, KL, Pahang, Negeri, Malacca & Johore) will set up special counters to process applicants from the Indian community.

• The Registration Department will document all individuals who come forward even those who do not have the sufficient supporting documents in order to ascertain the size of the problem needing solution

• The Registration Department will issue an acknowledgment letter with reference number for each case so as to monitor process and provide periodic updates to the national campaign coordinating committee at Putrajaya which is chaired by the Home Affairs Deputy Secretary General.

• The Registration Department has agreed to provide a status report on the cases received during the campaign period within two weeks after the campaign. The officials agreed to process all applications within nine months with periodic reviews every three months with the first progress report by May 2011 and subsequently in August and finally on Nov 2011.

• On the part of the political and civil society leaders, they agreed to identify the people with documentation problem at the grassroots and will bring them to the nearest Registration Department office.

• The community leaders agreed to host a series of briefing and planning meetings at the state and district levels (30 places) in preparing the volunteers to go to the ground, identify the individuals and their families. In addition to assist these individuals to come the Registration department office during the campaign period with the supporting requirements.

• The Taskforce together with its supporting organizations will launch an aggressive media campaign through the print media, radio, TV and internet including the support and cooperation of the Department of Information officials.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a stern warning that no money must be collected from the people by way of assisting them in securing the relevant documentation. Home Affairs will investigate the complaints and will take necessary action on individuals who abuse this free service of the Federal government.



State Registration Department officials at the discussion

 The Taskforce secretary Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria calls on all community leaders and NGOs to come forward to assist during this campaign period. This is an historical occasion which requires the utmost support of all parties concerned to find a lasting solution to the issues pertaining to documentation grievances among Malaysian Indians.

In addition he informed that the Taskforce Consultant, Dato Siva Subramaniam will be serving as the Campaign Coordinator and is available to meet those interested in participating in this nationwide national campaign.

-------------------

For further details please contact Taskforce secretariat officers Mrs Premala (03 8871 1280 or 03 8871 1371) and Mr Thana (016 295 7172)

Deputy Home Minister visits Butong to review Indian documentation cases

Dato Lee (Home Affairs), Dato Vera (Perak govt) & Dato Siva (SITF) meeting people

Securing citizenship documentation continues to be an area for serious action in the Indian community. On December 18, 2010 at the Mariamman Hall, Butong, Ipoh a total of 89 people made applications to the Registration Department pertaining to their documentation related concerns.

The nature of cases are:-

• Citizenship                                18
• Late birth registration                43
• Identification cards                    19
• Others                                        9

Counter by Registration Department

Among the VIPs at this function were the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Dato Lee Chee Leong, Dato Veerasingam, advisor to the chief minister of Perak, Dato Ganesan, Perak Assembly speaker and SITF consultant Dato Siva Subramanium. 15 officers from the Department were present to provid advice and processed the applications.

Long wait but finally successful

Mr Pali Pitam Munian (63) holding his newly secured BC

After trying for 25 years Pali Pitan Munian (63) was finally successful with the assistance of SITF to secure his birth certificate. He has now taken the forms and has made an application to change his identification card from red to blue, from resident to citizen. He has endured and finally was victories.

More such stories will emerge in the coming days as SITF is now giving tremendous attention to undocumented Malaysian Indians, assisting affected people in the processing stage and seeking to ratify their undocumented status.

On Dec 11, 2010 SITF organized special session at the National Registration Department’s office at Seberang Peri (Utara) at Butterworth office and at Seberang Peri (Selatan) at Jawi for the Indian community to come directly submit their applications. At hand to assist the Indian community were Dato Siva Subramanium (SITF) and Dato Suppayiah (MIC Penang).

SITF finds this approach of establishing the linkage between the community and the relevant public sector agency the most effective way of solving the affected persons’ problem. SITF acknowledges documentation is a major problem and at the bottom ordinary people lack confidence that they can succeed. They also have fears in approaching authorities especially officials linked with the Home Affairs on their undocumented status.

On Dec 11, 2010 through the effort by SITF and local leaders, a total of 42 cases were received, of which 24 were related to securing a birth certificate (BC), 8 pertaining to identification cards (IC) and another 10 for citizenship applications.

Enhancing Delivery at the District Level



Dato Ghani Ariffin, Deputy DG of ICU presenting certificates

 Federal government agencies operate at three levels. At the Federal level it is policy focused, at the state it is coordination and at the district it is direct delivery to the ordinary people. Therefore in enhancing delivery which will have a direct impact on ordinary people, SITF established six district level Taskforce teams in cooperation with eleven federal agencies.

The six districts are the places where the Program Mesra Rakyat was held namely at

• Perai in Penang
• Kulim in Kedah
• Kuala Kangsar in Perak
• Kuala Selangor in Selangor
• Sepang in Selangor
• Segamat in Johore

The eleven agencies are:-

• Department of Social Welfare
• Department of Registration
• Sosco
• Jobs Malaysia
• AIM
• Tekun
• Public Complaints Bureau
• Police
• Department of Youths & Sports
• Industrial Training Institute (ILP)
• ICU (ekasih registration)

SITF hosted a three day workshop from Dec 7 to 9, 2010 at the Institute Sosial Malaysia in order to enhance cooperation and partnership through the sponsorship of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

In addition to public sector officials SITF also invited community leaders and volunteers from the six districts including representatives from YSS, MIC women, youth, putera and puteri wings. A total of about 90 people gathered and deliberated on how to enhance effective delivery drawing up strategic proposals for 2011.



Dato Dr Ismail Alias, Deputy Director, Public Service Dept (JPA)


Seven resource persons shared on various themes such as:-

• Dato Dr Ismail Alias(JPA) on counseling principles
• Mr Anis Yusoff (KITA-UKM) on delivery which transcends ethnicity and focuses on quality of life of all Malaysians
• Dato Siva Subramanium on understanding the Indian community and challenges
• Dato Salleh Yaakub (ICU) on effective coordination at the district level
• Dr Vijay Shanmugam (Former Consultant) understanding the Pintas social management system
• Mrs Jasmine Adaickalam (Pemandu) understanding the national key result area of low income households.

These sessions were informative and eye opener for all as it provided further input on the Federal government initiatives in enhancing delivery which will have a personal touch with ordinary people at the grassroots.

The SITF Chairman, Datuk Dr Subramanian officiated the opening on Dec 8, 2010 at 11.30am. He thanked the officers for their cooperation and assistance. The closing speech and certificates were presented by Dato Ghani Ariffin, the Deputy Director General of ICU on the last day on Dec 9, 2010 at 12.30pm. Dato Ghani in his speech drew references from his experience as a District Officer and encouraged the district level officers to serve the community effectively.

A number of participants especially from the community indicated that this was the first time they had the opportunity to send three days with officials from their own district and this encounter has enhanced relationship which will have an impact on effective cooperation and partnership.

Participants at the SITF workshop (Dec 7 to 9, 2010)

SITF plans to enlarge the district level outreach from the current six districts to another 24 to expand to at least 30 districts by mid 2011. This enlargement to districts with high Indian population and targeting on the bottom 40 % will definitely have an impact on the quality of life of people at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.

Taskforce at Kulim- Solving Undocumented Cases

The Taskforce team headed by Dato Siva Subramanium is undertaking a grassroots attempt to find solutions to documentation concerns of Indians. The initial places visited are the locations where the Program Mesra Rakyat was held.

On December 2, 2010 the team was at Kulim operating directly from the Registration Department. This is a very positive model. The operation was organized from 8.30am and concluded at 3.30pm. The officers set up dedicated counters to process these applications and there was a strong human touch to this process.

A total of 58 cases were received. A total of 58 cases were received.

• Red IC cards 27 cases
• Birth certificates 12 cases
• IC cards 9 cases.
• Citizenship cases 8 cases
• Adoption 2 cases

 It is significant to note that by the end of the day all these case forms were received by the department officials for processing. We are seeing a tremendous change. Previously a majority of cases will return without making a submission. Now we see change. The individuals are also brining the necessary supporting documents for submission and our direct intervention of assisting to fill forms is also very effective and helpful. The community needs the ‘hand holding’ step of support and encouragement.

SITF team included Dato Siva Subramanium, Mr Thana and they were joined by a number of volunteers including the local leaders.