MyKad seized, cancer patient denied treatment
A 65-year-old cancer patient in Sarawak found herself without her identity card after she attempted to change her address so she could vote in the 15th general election.
Despite already struggling with colon cancer and other ailments, Lina Samuel was determined to exercise her rights, however, the Lawas district National Registration Department (NRD) office she visited to take care of the matter suddenly seized her MyKad.
When Lina demanded an explanation, the officer there told her that it was upon orders of the “boss”.
With a tired expression, Lina told Malaysiakini that after the incident, she felt that she had no choice but to...
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been amended to clarify Lina’s ethnic background.
A 65-year-old cancer patient in Sarawak found herself without her identity card after she attempted to change her address so she could vote in the 15th general election.
Despite already struggling with colon cancer and other ailments, Lina Samuel was determined to exercise her rights, however, the Lawas district National Registration Department (NRD) office she visited to take care of the matter suddenly seized her MyKad.
When Lina, who is from the Lun Bawang group, demanded an explanation, the officer there told her that it was upon orders of the “boss”.
With a tired expression, Lina told Malaysiakini after the incident, she felt that she had no choice but to accept what happened and went home with her heart in her stomach.
“I did not make a police report or complain to the NRD because I struggle with speaking (Bahasa Malaysia) formally,” said Lina through an interpreter.
“I knew, to some extent, that no one would understand or help me. My condition also prevented me from defending myself, so I just gave up,” she lamented.
No MyKad, no treatment
Since November 2022, Lina has been living without her MyKad and this has only made her life more difficult.
She explained that many of her doctor’s appointments and hospital visits were turned down because she did not have her identification card.
This also meant that she missed multiple cancer treatment sessions and she fears that her condition will only worsen.
Lina said she tried showing a photocopy of her MyKad to the hospital so she could proceed with treatment but to no avail.
However, she commended the doctors and nurses for attempting to aid her as much as possible despite the setbacks.
“I understand that legally, they cannot do anything to give me the proper treatment.
“Yet, they were kind and tried to help me in any way they could, such as finding alternative healthcare solutions for me,” she said.
Lina is not alone in her ordeal - accompanying her through her difficult journey is Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM)’s Agnes Padan, who helped translate Lina’s words for Malaysiakini.
Agnes, who is also a healthcare activist, told Malaysiakini that she has been trying to get Lina’s MyKad back from the NRD.
Additionally, she has been using social media to catch the attention of Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
However, her attempts have been unsuccessful, Agnes lamented.
“On top of trying to get Lina’s MyKad back, I’ve also reached out to healthcare NGOs and even those who deal with citizenship.
“When it comes to her cancer, she has to go to a proper hospital, but what can she do when her MyKad was taken away?” Agnes asked.
She also said the hospital in Lawas is akin to a government clinic, with limited equipment and specialists - not enough to handle cancer patients.
The PBM member said Lina has been getting treatment at the Miri Hospital instead, which is 312km away from Lawas, a three-hour drive.
“That means three hours to get there and three hours back.
“With her condition, and the fact that she will usually get turned away from the hospital, one can only imagine how tiring it is,” Agnes added.
Lina’s case not uncommon
Lina hopes this issue will be resolved soon as she does not want to lose her chance to beat cancer.
“I only ask for my MyKad back. If there’s an actual reason for it to be taken away, then please tell me why.
“In two weeks, I’m expected to see a doctor again but I am unsure if I’m able to go without my identification card,” Lina said.
Agnes said Lina’s case was not uncommon and claimed that the locals from the inner areas of Sarawak were often taken advantage of.
Prior to Lina’s case, Agnes also aided Mebpung Akup, another cancer patient from Lawas, who had been denied citizenship since she was 12 years old.
“It’s not fair that people like Lina are being denied their basic rights.
“She deserves an explanation from the NRD,” Agnes urged.
Malaysiakini has reached out to the NRD for comments on the matter.
"The damages were not our main concern," said Chong. "Our main concern was to tell those old people still alive now that if they were born in Sabah (or Sarawak) before Malaysia Day, and if they do not have a birth certificate but have other evidence of birth, they are citizens by operation of law." The verbal ruling, noted Chong, stressed that the issuance of a MyPR does not amount to deprivation of citizenship. 'The birth certificate is one requirement, but not the only one, to prove that someone was born in Sabah or Sarawak." According to the Cobbold Commission, Chong continued, any race in Sabah and Sarawak before Malaysia Day are automatically citizens of Britain and its colonies. "The Federal Constitution Article 14, read together with the second schedule, states that a person who is a citizen of the UK and colonies (in this case Sabah and Sarawak) is the citizen of the federation by operation of law," said Chong. "This is very important although Yong is not in possession of a birth certificate." Chong had previously publicly pointed out several times that the definition of federation in the Federal Constitution was as per the Federation of Malaya Agreement and not the Federation of Malaysia Agreement. This, according to him, effectively placed some 30,000 Sabahans in a legal twilight zone as "not citizens of Malaysia". These thousands have either permanent resident or temporary resident (green card) documents from the NRD. courtesy of Malaysiakini
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.