Student not allowed to sit for SPM

PARIT BUNTAR: 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 at the age of 17, she has yet to receive it as her application has not been approved by the National Registration Department (NRD).
A student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Panglima Bukit Gantang here, 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 receive any response.
He said Nurul Syuhada’s foster family were told of her status as a non-citizen, although she had been brought up by her foster parents since she was born.
Speaking to reporters at Taman Kerian Permai here 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 added. — Bernama