A 65-YEAR-OLD cancer patient in Sarawak, whose MyKad was confiscated amid a dispute over her nationality, died this morning.

Lina Samuel’s death was confirmed by PBM’s Agnes Padan, who told Malaysiakini the cancer victim died last night in Lawas Hospital.

“She was struggling with stage four colon cancer. She was in critical condition last night so she was admitted to the hospital about 10pm,” Agnes said today.

Lina left behind two daughters and two sons, all of whom are stateless.

“Her family has brought her body back to the village in Long Sebangang in Lawas, but I’m not sure if the funeral will be held today as they are waiting for her sons to come back from Baram,” Agnes added.

Lina had alleged that her identity card was seized by a National Registration Department (NRD) officer in November 2022, when she visited the department to change her address before the general election.

However, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution said Lina’s MyKad was impounded by the NRD on October 8, 2019 after it was discovered that she was listed as an Indonesian on her  children’s birth certificates.

Lina is a member of the Lun Bawang community.

After a meeting with officers from Kuching NRD, she was issued a temporary MyKad, which allowed her to travel from Lawas to Miri to be treated for colon cancer.

Agnes today revealed that Lina had declined treatment in the past few days, saying she was too weak.

“Until the day she passed, she (Lina) did not get back her MyKad.

“We hope that the home minister will look into Lina’s citizenship issue as it affects three generations.

“Lina has suffered. Her four children are stateless despite them being born in Lawas, and their children are also stateless. This is a big problem in Lawas.”

Lina’s citizenship issue brought into focus that the thousands of stateless people who have lived their whole life in Malaysia but are unable to get citizenship. – April 25, 2023.