Kepong reps to focus on youth

MEMBERS of Kepong Federal Territory Residents Repre-sentative Council (MPPWP) have received their letters of appointment for the 2024/2025 term.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the parliamentary constituency’s MPPWP had Lim’s assistant Dic Lai as chairman and six sub-zones.

These sub-zones are chaired respectively by Kamaruzaman Ismail (Umno); M. Jayakumar (PKR); Tan Chee Kett, Peh Thiam Kee and Koid Teng Cheong (DAP) and Mohamed Noorhafizzuddin Mohamed Razian (Amanah).

“Each zone has an average of 15 members,” Lim said during a press conference at Jinjang Utara community hall where MPPWP members received their papers.

He said there were plans to instal notice boards with numbers for each zone to facilitate residents’ communication.

Lim also unveiled forthcoming programmes, especially for youths.

“We will organise programmes aimed at helping young people explore their academic interests, future study options and potential career paths,” he said.

Also present at the event was Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Kepong branch office manager Norhizamudin Moktar Rudin, who highlighted MPPWP’s diverse membership.

“I look forward to a productive year ahead with programmes and events to enhance our community’s future,” said Norhizamudin.

On a separate matter, Lim discussed challenges individuals faced when seeking Malaysian citizenship.

He revealed that out of 57 citizenship applications his office was involved in over the past two years, only 15 were successful.

“Applying for citizenship has been difficult in Malaysia over the past 60 years.

“Many face obstacles such as parents not registering their marriage or when one parent is a foreigner,” he elaborated.

One of the successful applicants, Low Hock Yong, shared his story.

“My lack of Malaysian citizenship stemmed from my mother’s Indonesian nationality and my parents’ unmarried status when I was born.

“Without citizenship, I faced numerous difficulties, especially in pursuing my education,” said the 18-year-old.

Upon successfully obtaining citizenship on his third attempt, Hock Yong said his immediate goals were to obtain a driver’s licence, open a savings account and apply for a place in university.

Chew Siew Yoon expressed gratitude to Lim for assisting her 12-year-old grandson, Yap Yong Kang, obtain citizenship.

“My grandson lacked citizenship because of his late mother’s foreign nationality.

“For 12 years, my husband, son and I tried to help him apply for citizenship but to no avail.

“As a result, we had to make financial sacrifices to ensure he received an education.

“But thankfully, with the MP’s help, my grandson has now obtained his citizenship,” said Chew.

Goh Kim Seng shared his ongoing struggle to obtain citizenship for over 30 years.

“I failed three citizenship application interviews because of my limited Bahasa Malaysia.

“I have paid agents multiple times for assistance, only to discover they were scams,” he said.

In response, Lim emphasised the importance of applicants seeking assistance from relevant authorities.

He said he would assist Goh to prepare the required documents and schedule interviews.