Man Gets Long Awaited Citizenship For Aidilfitri

POKOK SENA, March 23 (Bernama) -- The prolonged wait for a construction worker to obtain valid identification documents finally ended when his application from 2016 was approved, and he was granted a citizenship certificate just in time for Aidilfitri. 

"I did not have any identification documents, so whenever I rode my motorcycle, I was always cautious to avoid roadblocks, feeling fearful," said Muhammad Ramadan Abdullah, 21, who hails from Alor Setar, expressing gratitude and joy.

"It'll be easier now to obtain a driving license and handle other affairs," he added, speaking to reporters after the Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) programme, conducted by the National Registration Department (JPN) here last night.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, presented the citizenship certificates to 12 recipients who had applied for the status under Article 15A and Article 15(1) of the Federal Constitution.

"Ramadan had no documents since birth; he only had an adoption certificate because he lived with me. So, Alhamdulillah, he could attend primary and secondary school and obtain the SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia)," explained Ramadan's aunt, Solehah Wan Shafie, 48.

In a recent press release, the JPN announced that from January until March 15 of this year, 441 MEKAR programmes were conducted nationwide, successfully processing 10,842 transactions.

-- BERNAMA