SIBU, Oct 5 — Ten-year-old Rovina Rata, who has been living without documentation, is eagerly waiting for the day she can finally attend school with her peers – a dream that will soon come true once she receives her identification documents within the next three to six months.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Lanang chairman Michael Tiang, together with vice-president Lee See Ming, accompanied Rovina and four-year-old Augustine Ijan, who is also undocumented, to the National Registration Department (NRD) here on Sept 23 to apply for their personal documents.
“On Sept 28, Augustine successfully obtained his MyKid card, while Rovina would need to wait between three and four months to receive hers,” Tiang told reporters when met after PKR Lanang’s Mooncake Festival celebration here on Friday night, which hosted more than 300 attendees.
He said once Rovina had received her personal documents, they would bring her to the Education Department to begin her school enrolment process.
Recalling how their plight came to light, Tiang said it was during a food basket distribution programme initiated by Miri MP Chiew Choon Man on Sept 21.
“YB Chiew had requested us to recommend eligible recipients, and Lee See Ming nominated two of his two workers.
“Both fathers, who are from Kapit, are his construction workers.
“During the visit, we discovered that their children lacked identification documents, and the girl was not attending school.
“Realising the urgency, we brought Rovina to a nearby school with the hope of enrolling her, but we were advised to obtain her identification documents first from the NRD.”
Asked why the parents, both Sarawakians, had not applied earlier, Tiang said the children’s situations were different.
“In Augustine’s case, it was due to a late birth registration.
“His parents didn’t apply immediately, likely because it was during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period and they faced difficulties later when they tried to do so.
“Rovina’s case was slightly more complicated.
“Her mother previously did not have an identification document herself.
“The matter was delayed, but now that her mother has MyKad, NRD has proceeded with Rovina’s application.
“She is expected to receive her documents within three to six months,” he explained. — The Borneo Post
