Tan Boon Moay never knew her parents. Thirty-six years ago she was left at a temple and was later adopted by a Malaysian couple.

She thought the worst was over until she tried to apply for a Malaysian identity card.

"I tried many times. But every time I was told that I am not a citizen as my biological parents are unknown," Tan said.

"Life becomes harder without a blue IC. I can't work, I cannot travel. It's unfair when none of this was my fault," she said when met at the Penang National Registration Department on Jalan Anson today.

Accompanying her at the state NRD were PKR MPs Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru) and N Surendran (Padang Serai), who said they have raised her case in Parliament but that there is yet to be a change of policy on such matters.

Tan, armed with her birth certificate and a green IC which she has to renew annually, is trying to apply for a blue IC yet again after numerous attempts.

An officer from the NRD, who requested anonymity, said Tan would have to return to the department on Monday afternoon, to see if her application is successful.

'Utter injustice of the system'

Surendran said Tan's case shows the "utter injustice of the system," as the Federal Constitution clearly states that for a child that is found, his or her parents are assumed to be citizens.

"For the crime of being a foundling - a child that was found, she got this green thing, and it has to be renewed yearly.

"To make matters worse, the NRD officer is unaware of the law on children who are left and found, I had to inform her about it," said Surendran (photo).

"In such cases, the officer at the counter tells the applicants to go to the citizenship department because 'we don't know who your parents are,'" Surendran added.

Sim said Tan's case was highlighted in Parliament but the minister said she should continue to apply for the blue IC.

"She needs a pathway to citizenship. If foreigners can apply to be Malaysians, why can't she? We want a policy change and not just (on a) case by case basis," Sim said.

The Penang government has formed a taskforce to try and register stateless people but they face several challenges as citizenship matters come directly under the purview of the Home Ministry based in Putrajaya.

Treated as a foreigner

Meanwhile, Gunawathy Krishnan, who was also at the NRD, expressed frustration that she has to struggle every time she needs to sit for a national school examination.

Originally from Seberang Jaya, Gunawathy's parents are both Malaysians but her mother - Kumari Muniandy - shares her daughter's fate as she was also deprived of a blue IC, although she possesses a birth certificate.

Gunawathy was recently barred from sitting for her Form Three exams (PT3) as she does not possess a blue IC but after much negotiation with the school authorities, she sat for her papers.

"I like to study, but would I be allowed to sit for exams? I see no future for me if I cannot sit for exams. In two years time, I have to face the SPM, can I sit for it?" lamented the 15-year-old student. 

Gunawathy anticipates a bleak future without a blue IC as even her dreams to travel and visit countries beyond Malaysia remains uncertain.

Kumari, a mother of six, complained that her husband, a scrap metal dealer, has to carry all the financial burden as she cannot work without an IC.

"I am 38 but never been anywhere. I am even afraid to move freely in my own country as we fear we would be stopped by the police," said Kumari, whose three sons' applications for their ICs were also rejected by the NRD.

"If this is not enough, we are subjected to high medical fees in public hospitals, (as) we are treated as foreigners.

"My daughter recently met with an accident, her medical fees were RM500, we still owe the hospital," she cried.

Asked how many times she has tried to apply for a blue IC, Kumari replied, "Don't ask how many times, ask how many years".

"We are always told to wait... wait... and wait. When I am sick, I just take Panadol. I cannot afford to pay as a foreigner".

Denial of education

Surendran said Gunawathy's case is "shocking" as her father is a Malaysian and her mother lived her all her life.

"Just because her mom does not have an IC, Gunawathy is officially stateless and as a schoolgirl, she has to constantly fight to sit for exams. This is a serious case of denial of education," Surendran said.

Sim said he brought her elder sister to apply for her IC five years ago, and her application was successful.

"Why the double standard when it comes to Gunawathy?" Sim asked.

Penang Island city councillor A Kumaresan said PKR is organising a road show to highlight the problem, so that the party can help other stateless people, especially youths in the country.

"Prime Minister Najib Razak denied there were 300,000 stateless people, he said there are only 7,000 and that the government had initiated a MyDaftar (registration) programme in 2010 where stateless people can submit their application, but they do not go to the grassroots to help people," Kumaresan said.

"We try to fill the gap and reach out to those who are not aware of this issue, as they have nowhere to go," he added.