Stateless no longer for young Suki

The young girl whose tale of loss and statelessness sparked an outpouring of sympathy and aid from across the country three years ago has finally succeeded in her quest to be called a citizen of Malaysia.

Suki Wong Pei Yee, who was just 10 years old when MalaysiaNow first told her story, collected her blue MyKad at the National Registration Department in Putrajaya yesterday.

Now 13, Suki and her father, Wong Kon Foo, were all smiles as they held the precious document representing the world of opportunities previously denied to her, including the chance to attend school like any other child her age.

"Suki and her father are very happy because she finally has citizenship and can continue with life just like her other friends," Suki's lawyer, Norshali Anuar, representing the law firm Anton & Chen, said.

She said Suki's application for citizenship was submitted in 2022 but met with silence from the government's end. A second application was made the following year.

Suki's mother, Vietnamese citizen Tran Diem Kiew, died in 2021. Tran was the family's main breadwinner as Wong had suffered a stroke which left him wheelchair-bound.

Following her death, Suki and Wong had been forced to depend on the charity of others as well as monthly handouts from the welfare department.

While other children her age were in school, Suki had no choice but to stay at home, taking care of her father and managing affairs in their humble apartment unit in Damansara Damai, Petaling Jaya.

In May 2022, when MalaysiaNow shared her story, Suki was able to converse in three languages – Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Malay – but could not read or write.

She was able to attend school after the flood of support that greeted her tale, and was given pro bono legal aid in her efforts to be recognised as a Malaysian citizen.

She is now at the Year 4 level in school.