MyKad-less cancer patient was treated by Miri Hospital, daughter confirms

Cancer patient Lina Samuel has not been denied treatment at the Miri and Lawas Hospitals despite having her MyKad seized by the National Registration Department (NRD), according to the Sarawak Health Department. 

In a statement today, state health department director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said that this was confirmed by Lina’s daughter. 

“The cancer patient is under the care of a surgeon at Miri Hospital and she has continued to receive appropriate treatment regardless of her identification document or nationality status. 

“The Miri Hospital has performed several procedures in treating the patient this year, including imaging on Feb 15, surgical procedures on Feb 17, and a follow-up imaging on March 20,” he was quoted saying by Dayak Daily. 

Ooi added that Lina was scheduled for a follow-up treatment appointment at Miri Hospital’s specialist clinic next Monday, April 17. 

He said that Lina had also received treatment at Lawas Hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Unit on April 1, where she had undergone an examination and was referred to a medical officer on call.

Ooi stressed that the Health Department was committed to provide the best service to the Sarawak community regardless of background, but it was subjected to current laws and regulations.

Malaysiakini has contacted Lina’s daughter for clarification regarding Ooi’s assertion.

‘Indonesian citizen’

On April 9, Malaysiakini reported that 65-year-old Lina, who suffers from colon cancer, was denied hospital treatment after her MyKad was confiscated.

Lina, who resides in Lawas, Sarawak, explained that her MyKad was confiscated by the NRD in November last year after a trip to the department’s office to change the address on her identity card so that she could vote in the 15th general election.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that based on investigations, Lina was found to be an Indonesian citizen. This is despite her claims that she was from the Lun Bawang group.

However, when contacted by Malaysiakini, the NRD said the case is still under investigation and that it has yet to meet Lina.

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek condemned Saifuddin’s statement, stating that Lina’s situation falls under Part 1 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia 1957’s Second Schedule.

Part 1 stipulates that persons born after Malaysia Day (Sept 16, 1963) are citizens by operation of law. This rule also extends to anyone born within the Federation after Merdeka Day and before October 1962.

Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) member Agnes Padan said that Lina was born in 1957, before Malaysia was formed, at a time when there was no requirement to register births in Sarawak. 

According to Lina's daughter, the elderly woman cannot recall where she was officially born as her parents passed away when she was a child and she lost her birth certificate when she relocated to Lawas in her teens.

However, her daughter told Malaysiakini that prior to moving, Lina lived in Kampung Long Sui - about 18km away from Lawas - since she was an infant.

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