Indians bear the brunt of neglect
Raman’s 58-year-old brother, Subramaniam, meanwhile has a different story. When he applied for his blue IC, he was told that he would have no problems getting one if he only converted to Islam. Ever since then, he has been afraid to go back to the office.
By Stephanie Sta Maria, Free Malaysia Today
Raman Nagiah is a relieved man. After numerous applications to get his red identity card (IC) replaced by a blue one, he has finally received a letter summoning him to the National Registration Department (NRD) in Shah Alam to sit for a Bahasa Malaysia written exam.
However, his relief is tinged with anxiety. This is the second time he will be taking the exam and the memory of his first experience is still fresh in his mind.
“I was so happy when I was called to Putrajaya to collect my IC,” Raman recalled. “When I got there, they gave me a red IC instead of a blue one. I told them that they had made a mistake but they told me I had to reapply if I wanted a blue one.”
So Raman did, and he was called in for an exam at the Jerantut branch in 2003. Once there, he was asked to sing the ‘Negaraku’. The then 50-year-old faltered halfway and his application was subsequently rejected.
“I hope the exam will be easier this time,” he said earnestly. “I want to be a proper Malaysian citizen.”
According to Pertubuhan Sosial dan Kebajikan Masyarakat Daerah Hulu Selangor (Persekomas), Raman is among more than 100 Indians without a blue IC. Some don’t even have a birth certificate.
“These are uneducated people whose own parents never thought of registering their birth,” said its chairman Krishnan Maruthan. “So they don’t think of registering their children’s births either.”
“It’s only when the child reaches school age that the parents realise they don’t have their own birth certificates. By this time the father has abandoned the family and without his presence, no birth certificate can be issued. Which also means that many Indian children can’t receive an education.”
Krishnan explained that the red IC poses its own set of problems as children cannot be registered as Malaysian citizens if their father doesn’t hold a blue IC. Neither can those with a red IC enjoy any government benefits.
