69 years of Merdeka, but Velmurugan is still waiting to be Malaysian
Born and raised in Perak, this 39-year-old remains stateless as he struggles to support his wife and five children.
In Malaysia, Velmurugan, born in 1987 in Tanjung Malim, Perak, and raised in poverty, still remains a non-citizen despite living his entire life in the country. His citizenship remains uncertain as his birth was only officially registered in 2011 when he was 24. His mother, Balamah, was similarly unregistered until 2019, leaving Velmurugan's status "not yet determined" throughout her life.
He lost a long legal battle for citizenship in 2024 and continues to face hardships, with his family living on a low income. Balamah, who also faced similar issues, passed away before her case could be resolved. Velmurugan's five children are Malaysian citizens, but the lack of citizenship has significantly limited his ability to work and provide for them.
He is now seeking a temporary residence identity card, hoping to vote in elections and gain access to government services. The case highlights the fundamental disagreement over the interpretation of the Federal Constitution's citizenship provisions.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- 69 tahun merdeka, Velmurugan masih menanti kewarganegaraan freemalaysiatoday.com
- Merdeka in Motion brings Malaysian calligraphy, identity and heritage to life thevibes.com
