Mother suddenly dies, unable to see kids become M'sian citizens
The ceremony, in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, was organised by Family Frontiers, and was held in remembrance of Sabeena Syed Jafer, who leaves behind four children.
She had been fighting for her overseas-born children to be Malaysian citizens since they returned to the country in 2008.
According to her 24-year-old daughter Niba Zaidi...
Attendees could not hold back tears at a ceremony held at Tasik Aman Jaya today for a Malaysian mother who died before seeing her children become citizens of her home country.
The ceremony, in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, was organised by Family Frontiers, and was held in remembrance of Sabeena Syed Jafer, who leaves behind four children.
She had been fighting for her overseas-born children to be Malaysian citizens since they returned to the country in 2008.
According to her 24-year-old daughter Niba Zaidi, Sabeena suffered from sudden death while getting an angioplasty to treat a blockage in her heart on March 29.
“Her last wish was for us to get citizenship. That always has been her dream.
“People always try to give suggestions, ‘Why don’t you live in the UK or Pakistan?’ (but) she never liked that.
“(She would say) ‘Malaysia is my home, citizenship for my children is my right’.
“My mum gave us so much love, our heart is really broken,” said Niba, who works as a marketing manager while studying illustration.
She said her 61-year-old mother wanted to undergo the artery procedure so that she would be in good health when celebrating Hari Raya with her children and grandchildren earlier this year.
However, her wish to reunite with her children for the holidays was cut short due to her passing.
Sabeena, her husband - who is from Pakistan - and her four children moved to Malaysia 14 years ago, following her husband’s retirement from the World Bank.
Upon their return, Sabeena was unable to secure citizenship for her first three children - which resulted in the emigration of the eldest three children.
Prior to the pandemic, the housewife frequently travelled between the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Malaysia to see her children who were living in different countries, due to their inability to gain Malaysian citizenship.
“It took a toll on her health,” said Niba, who is the youngest of the four.
According to Niba, she applied for citizenship and permanent residency twice respectively, with no explanation given for each rejected application.
She shared how they felt once the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled last Sept 9 that Malaysian women, married to foreign men, have the same right as Malaysian men married to foreign women to confer citizenship on their children born overseas.
"When the mothers won, we cried and hugged. After 13 years, we (thought we) finally had a chance - and then, the government appealed the court decision," she said.
She added that while her mother previously fought alone, she soon found other mothers were facing the same issue.
The event today, which was accompanied by thunder and overcast skies, lasted two hours and was attended by about 70 people, including families impacted by similar issues and civil society groups such as the Women’s Aid Organisation and the Young Lawyers Movement.
Also in attendance were MPs and representatives of political parties such as Sekijang MP Natrah Ismail and Muda’s Aini Haziqah and Dian Lee.
At one point, attendees were heard chanting "Saya Juga Anak Malaysia".
The event was held in conjunction with the #SayaJugaAnakMalaysia campaign and its current campaign #ManaDokumenKami that is urging the government to respect and comply with the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision.
The government is appealing the court’s decision.
The government will know on June 22 whether it succeeds in its appeal to deny automatic citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers.
The government previously mounted a failed bid to stay the lower court decision, pending disposal of its appeal to the Court of Appeal.
It was reported that following the landmark High Court ruling, Malaysian mothers finally succeeded in registering their children as citizens with the National Registration Department.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.