Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said no child should be excluded or left behind, especially in education and access to government programmes. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof is to conduct a review of progress on guidelines for helping children without citizenship to obtain an education and benefit from government development programmes.
He said a holistic solution is needed to settle the problems faced by children without identity documents, particularly in Sarawak.
Although a task force has been established, several aspects still require thorough review, he said in Kuching, according to Bernama.
Among matters for review are legal provisions, guidelines and implementation procedures, to ensure that children born in the state but not officially registered are not further marginalised.
“Although they were born in Sarawak, some children still do not have, or have yet to register for, their birth documents,” he said at a Sarawak women’s forum.
“No child should be excluded or left behind, especially when it comes to education and access to government programmes,” he said.
Fadillah said he would coordinate with all relevant ministries and agencies to review the actions currently being taken at both the federal and state levels.
“Although the task force is already in place, I will call together all relevant ministries and agencies so that we have a clear understanding of what the government is doing, whether at the federal or state levels,” he said.
