Nationwide drive to assist stateless Indian to be launched in June: Subramaniam (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The government will kickstart a nationwide drive to assists those in the Indian community with citizenship issues in June, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
Stating that this is the first agenda to be launched under the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB), Subramaniam said the drive will be conducted in 23 zones beginning in Selangor on June 3.
"Under the MyDaftar programme from 2010 to 2016, we had 12,726 applications from the Indian community involving citizenship, late registration of birth certificate and issuance of MyKad.
"At present, 7,126 applications have been approved with 626 rejected while 4,974 are being reviewed," he told reporters after chairing the inaugural MIB meeting at the Health Ministry, here, today.
While other parties have claimed that there are between 200,000 to 300,000 Indians facing citizenship issues, Subramaniam said the latest agenda will be the perfect platform for claimants to bring those facing such issues forward.
"We encourage all those facing citizenship, birth certificate and MyKad problems to come forward during the programme.
"Members of the Opposition who have highlighted such cases are also welcome to assist those in need by bringing them to the programme," he said, adding that continued criticism and bickering on both sides of the political divide will not benefit the Indian community.
Subramaniam, who is also MIC president, said the nationwide drive will be conducted with the cooperation of the National Registration Department (NRD) and the Home Ministry from June 3 to June 26.
Last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak launched the MIB and vowed to see all the core trusts listed under it fulfilled within its 10-year period.
Some of the details of the blueprint announced by Najib include:
» a RM40 million special fund to help Indian students to further their studies;
» to increase the Indian community enrolment in public higher education institutions to at least 7%; and
» to increase the Indian community participation in the public service to 7% by 2026