A student who achieved excellent results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2018 trial exam is now unsure if she can sit for the actual exam next week as she does not have an identity card.

Like other children, Nurul Syuhada applied for the IC when she was 12 years old, but now 17, she has yet to get it as her application has not been approved by the National Registration Department (NRD).

A student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Panglima Bukit Gantang in Parit Buntar, Perak, Nurul Syuhada Abdul Nasir Idris, whose parents were Cambodian, is not allowed to sit for the SPM which begins on Nov 13 as she is not a Malaysian citizen.

According to family spokesman Mohd Khalid Fatharuddin, 58, the family had appealed numerous times to Perak NRD since 2013 but did not get any response.

He said Nurul Syuhada’s foster family were told her status was a non-citizen, although she had been brought up by her foster parents since she was born.

Speaking to reporters at Taman Kerian Permai in Parit Buntar last night, Mohd Khalid said after Nurul Syuhada was born in Malaysia, she was given to a local family when her biological parents returned to Cambodia.

“We are sad that she cannot sit for the SPM 2018 next week because she is an intelligent student with the potential of getting excellent results,” he said.

He appealed for Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik to help resolve the situation so that Nurul Syuhada could sit for the SPM on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, head special officer of the Parit Buntar MP Service Centre Hairul Nizam Ishak said Nurul Syuhada’s case had been forwarded to the Home Ministry and Education Ministry for approval.

“However, the Home Ministry has only responded to say her case is being studied and considered according to standard procedure,” he said.

- Bernama