The Pakatan Harapan government has been urged to promptly resolve the citizenship issues facing permanent resident (MyPR) and temporary resident (MyKas) identity card holders in Sarawak.

Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin said there were an estimated 75,000 MyKas and 3,000 MyPR identity card holders in Sarawak, with most of them origins of the state.

“Many of them live in the interior areas, with no access to go to the National Registration Department and because of the lack of awareness (by their parents to register their birth) there is problems for them getting their citizenship.

“It is also because of that they do no have birth certificate and they become stateless or have the MyKas or MyPR,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama News Channel’s (BNC) talk show, “Ruang Bicara” last night.

He also suggested the government to recruit and train local residents in Sarawak to prepare them for high-level posts in government departments and agencies, in tandem with the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“Although we are ready to provide high posts in government departments and agencies for local residents, but if they are not ready, it will be a problem,” he added.

- Bernama