A STATELESS 13-year-old, who has been refused a place in a government school to continue his secondary education because he is a non-citizen, has found some hope in an education centre run by a civil society group. 

Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii helped the boy gain placement at the centre, D’Wira Educational Association in Kuching, which caters to children between three and 21 years old who are applying for citizenship or proper identity documents. 

The teenager’s father was a hawker and the sole breadwinner of his family.

However, his father’s health deteriorated due to diabetes and other chronic illnesses, and he has been unable to work and earn money. 

Yii said due to his condition, one of his legs was amputated. 

The DAP lawmaker said the boy’s father has been in hospital for over a month now for post-surgical treatments and care for his other ailments.

The 13-year-old is not a Malaysian citizen because his parents were not legally married. 

“Because of that, he has never obtained an identity card, and thus was unable to get proper education, and has never even been to school,” Yii said without naming the boy or his family. 

“When I found out about his situation, I tried finding ways to ensure at least he gets some form of education and life skills so he can at least take care of himself in future. 

“I managed to (get) connected to an NGO that was willing to provide some education to him,” he said in reference to the centre and its principal Jap Siew Moi. 

Yii said the boy would be taught the basics of reading, writing, and counting. 

“They will focus on the main two languages and mathematics before moving on to teach him some basic science.

“He is very excited to start studying,” Yii said.

Yii said it is important that the boy gets some basic education. – February 18, 2023.