HUMAN RIGHTS & UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS IN MALAYSIA

PROHAM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON

HUMAN RIGHTS & UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS IN MALAYSIA

Date:                Dec 20, 2012 (Thursday)

Time:                4.00 to 6.30pm (Tea served)

Venue:              Conference Room at Dignity International, A-2-7 Pusat Perdagangan Seksyen 8, Jalan Sg Jernih 8/1, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Tel/Fax :03 7931 0741

The issues and concerns of undocumented Malaysians has been a focus of attention for some time both at the policy advocacy level and at the service dimension in assisting people meet the necessary requirements.  This issues impacts sections of the indigenous people like the Penans, former Indian plantation workers and those of Siamese origin residing closer to the Malaysian-Thai border

The Federal Government has undertaken a comprehensive effort through the ‘My daftar’ program to identify the undocumented people especially those without birth certificates, identification cards and citizenship dimensions including red IC holders

In recent political discussions these concerns have surfaced again and have become a major area for political advocacy. While there has been success in documentation there has been numerous complaints and rejections due to the inability to provide the needed documentation.

Among the issues raised are:-

-       The differing views pertaining to the number of people facing documentation problems. Various figures have been floated from 9,000 to 300,000 with no officially declared figures

-       The complex nature of issues confronting the person or family to prove his or her legitimate claim for citizenship

-       The enormous negative impact on quality of life due to non-possession of documents such as inability to access education, employment, welfare benefit, exercise political rights

-       The human suffering and discrimination faced

Proham discussion will focus on:-

-       Noting the size, extend and seriousness of the problem.

-       Document the human rights violations especially the  challenges & suffering faced by affected people

-       Review the current application and verification process

-       Explore how this application process can be simplified. Review if any procedures, requirements or even laws that need changes so as to become people friendly

GUEST PANE LIST

Dato Siva Subramanium, (Consultant, Special Implementation Taskforce on the Indian Community, Prime Minister’s Department & Proham Treasurer) – Update on the documentation campaign and efforts by the Federal government

Ms Nanthini Ramalo, (Director for Women’s Program, DHRRA Malaysia) – Experiences of non-documented persons & the challenges encountered

Mr Eric Paulsen,( Co-Founder & Advisor, Lawyers for Liberty)- Review of legal & procedure requirements

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Proham member & Chairman of ASLI-CPPS – Review of policy implications & charting an Action Plan

 Moderator: Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria