MyKad joy after citizenship issue resolved for 18

GEORGE TOWN: A 68-year-old senior citizen who came to Malaysia with his mother before Independence Day in 1957 has finally obtained his MyKad after many unsuccessful applications since his teenage years.
K. Ramu, who suffered a stroke four years ago, expressed relief and happiness after finally obtaining the document of citizenship at the National Registration Department (NRD) office here today.
Ramu said he first made an application at the age of 16, during the administration of (former prime minister) Tun Abdul Razak, adding that he had made countless unsuccessful applications since then.
The senior citizen said as he had not been able to vote in all the previous general elections, he is looking forward to finally being able to cast his vote in the upcoming 14th general election.
During today's ceremony, A. Saroja, 66, from Sungai Petani, Kedah, also said she was happy to finally receive her MyKad and certificate of citizenship from the NRD.
The housewife said she has been carrying a red identification document since she was 12 years old.
Both of them were among 18 recipients who had their citizenship issue finally resolved after decades.
Out of the 18, two individuals have already collected their MyKads while eight turned up at the NRD office today.
In a media conference, MIC vice-president Datuk T. Mohan, who handed over the citizenship documents to the recipients, said he was happy for all of them.
He said a total of 12,756 of applications for citizenship were made while 7,126 have been approved to date, adding that about 4,974 applications are still pending.
He also rubbished claims by the Opposition that 300,000 people have yet to receive their citizenship.