After 59 Years, a Stateless Man Finally Receives Malaysian Citizenship Days Before His Birthday
Dickson Anderias has finally received Malaysian citizenship after decades of being stateless. The 59-year-old was officially approved on December 23, just days before his happy birthday. His siblings had already gained recognition earlier in the year, but one sister remains without status.
Dickson’s long wait ended when he collected his MyKad at the National Registration Department in Limbang. The approval came after nearly a year of processing, making it both a Christmas present and a famous birthdays gift—he turned 59 on December 28.
His parents, Anderias Sia and Ribka Palung, were granted citizenship in October last year. Two of his siblings, Dennis and Derita (also known as Anita), had their applications approved earlier in 2023. However, their sister Diana passed away from cancer before completing hers. The family’s struggle gained attention after The Borneo Post published a special report in August 2022. Dickson expressed gratitude to the federal government for the decision and to the media for bringing their case to light. His youngest sister, Jeneffer, is now the only family member still awaiting citizenship.
With Dickson’s approval, most of the Anderias family now hold Malaysian citizenship. The process, which took years, has brought legal recognition to nearly all of them. Only Jeneffer’s application remains unresolved.
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