69 years of Merdeka, but Velmurugan is still waiting to be Malaysian

On this Merdeka Day, 39-year-old Velmurugan feels a deep sense of isolation in his own country. Born in 1987 in the remote Tanjung Malim area of Perak, he and his mother, Balamah, grew up in poverty. His birth, registered only in 2011, contributed to the documentation issues plaguing his life. His father abandoned the family when Velmurugan was a year old, and Balamah's citizenship status remained "yet to be determined" throughout her life.

Balamah passed away before her status could be resolved, leaving Velmurugan to continue the fight for his citizenship. Despite navigating bureaucracy for years, and eventually taking the government to court in 2024, he has lost both cases. Velmurugan and his family live in a rented home, facing daily uncertainty, low income, and the burden of his unresolved status.

While his five children are Malaysian citizens through their mother, Velmurugan remains stateless, making it difficult for him to work or open a bank account. His six-year-old daughter is undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumour, and his wife has faced health complications as well. Parti Socialis Malaysia chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj has been supporting the family for years, arguing that Velmurugan's case highlights a fundamental disagreement over how the Federal Constitution's citizenship provisions should be interpreted.

However, despite these efforts, Velmurugan remains determined to care for his children and hopes for a MyKAS, a temporary residence identity card, which would allow for limited access to government services and voting rights.