KUANTAN: An investigation will be necessary before identification documents can be issued to stateless Rohana Abdullah who was abandoned as a baby by her Indonesian mother, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

       He said supporting documents were needed to resolve the issue.

       ‘’There are some documents required to grant a person citizenship... there are many (cases) like this across the country, including Sabah and Sarawak.

       “I understand that Rohana’s father is a citizen. Therefore, if there are documents to prove this, it will make it easier. This is a responsibility given to me and it will be done as best as possible.

       “This issue (identification documents) is part of the ministry’s agenda this year to reduce the number of people facing such problems,” he said when asked about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s commitment to assist Rohana via a video on social media on Sunday.

       Hamzah was speaking at a press conference after a working visit related to east coast flood management yesterday, Bernama reported.

       Last week, the media reported that Rohana, 22, was abandoned when she was two months old by her mother and raised by Chee Hoi Lan, now 83, who was a kindergarten teacher where Rohana’s mother worked as a cleaner.

       It was also reported that Rohana was forced to drop out of school as she did not have identification papers and also suffered from anxiety due to the problems she faced.

       On another matter, Hamzah said his team had ordered 50 boats of various types at a cost of RM3.05mil for floods.

       Seven of the boats were handed over yesterday for use in east coast states.

       He said the Dutch boats worth RM267,000 were made of durable high-density polyethene and had different passenger capacities.

       “I was informed that the remaining boats will be ready in 10 weeks,” he said.