KUCHING: Sarawak is seeking special powers to resolve citizenship issues faced by people in the state, in line with its status as an equal partner in Malaysia.

       State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this was important so that affected children could enjoy their basic rights, especially education, while waiting for their citizenship status to be resolved.

       "We request the Premier of Sarawak bring up this matter with the Prime Minister so that we can be given special powers on citizenship issues," she said at the Sarawak Women's Day celebration in Miri on Tuesday (March 8).

       Fatimah said the state's special committee on citizenship had received 969 applications under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution from 2016 to Oct 22 last year.

       To date, only 253 had been approved while the rest were still under consideration, she said.

       Article 15A covers citizenship applications for individuals below 21 years old under special circumstances.

       "What is really sad is that while awaiting the Home Ministry's decision, stateless children are deprived of their rights to education, healthcare, job opportunities and welfare assistance," Fatimah said.

       Last month, a nine-year-old girl in Lawas was reportedly stopped from attending school pending approval of her citizenship status.

       According to local media reports, Jeanny Liana Ating's mother Ruran Lukas received a text message saying that Jeanny was no longer allowed to attend SK Long Sebangang as she did not have identity documents.

       She was still waiting for her citizenship application to be approved despite being born and raised in Sarawak, due to her parents' late marriage registration.