SIBU: An estimate of 1,000 undocumented children in Sarawak have been denied their rights to education, says Malaysian Commission of Human Rights (Suhakam) commissioner Datuk Dr Madeline Berma.

       Madeline, who was speaking at a press conference organised by Suhakam on Monday (March 14), added that these children were not documented, as their parents had not registered their marriages.

       "We have written to the Education Minister to allow them to enrol in school, as we know that at least one of their parents are Malaysian," she said.

       She added that Suhakam had also sent letters to the respective education department and the schools concerned to accept them.

       "Their number is provided to us by the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia), a non-governmental organisation, and is an estimate only," she said.

       On Native Customary Right (NCR) land issue, Suhakam member Datuk Mah Weng Kwai suggested that a special delegate court be set up to deal with the backlog of cases.

       "Perhaps it is time that we delegate a court to deal with them, much like in Semenanjung we have a court to deal with child offences and also a court to deal with destruction to the environment," he said.

       The other issue involving NCR was that there had been many decisions made in the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

       "Perhaps, it is also timely that specific laws be passed to deal with it so that the situation can be made clearer," he said.

       Jerald Joseph who chaired the press conference said among other issues raised up to Suhakam included a request for people with disabilities (OKU) be represented in the state assembly and Parliament.

       Another issue was of holders of identity cards where they were wrongly classified as Muslim because they had a 'bin' or 'binti' in their names.