Several rectangular tables were joined together, laden with an array of mouth-watering traditional dishes. Aromas filled the air, making everyone’s stomach rumble in anticipation.
The hosts were five siblings who had gathered to hold a ‘thanksgiving’ dinner for several ‘aunties and uncles’ from their Bandar Menjalara neighbourhood in Kepong, about 15km from Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The Ee siblings – Ting Sang, 20, Si May, 18, Ting Fok, 17, Ting Kat, 16, and Ting Choi, 13 – had only recently gained their ‘freedom’ after receiving their MyKad, Malaysia’s national identity card.
To make the evening more special, Ting Kat was also celebrating his 16th birthday on Oct 6.
“We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for our aunties and uncles who took care of us,” said Ting Sang, who helped prepare the food.
“This dinner is our small way of saying thank you. We were once lost, but now we finally have a sense of belonging. From being stateless, we are now proud Malaysian citizens. A big thank you to all of them – they’ve made our lives so much better.”
Twentytwo13 had recently reported, on Oct 2, that the siblings finally received their MyKad after years of uncertainty.
Their ordeal began in 2017, when their foreign mother abandoned them and their Malaysian father.
Former journalist and editor Sheila Rahman Natarajan noticed the children in her neighbourhood. After learning about their plight, she gathered several neighbours to lend a hand.
“When we first met them, they were very shy and could hardly speak English. I volunteered to teach them, but they ran away from me!” recalled one of the aunties, C.P. Cheah, laughing.
“Today, my heart is full of joy listening to Ting Sang speak fluent English. He sounds so confident. What a remarkable young man he has become. All of them have blossomed into fine young adults.”
The Bandar Menjalara ‘aunties and uncles’ worked tirelessly to secure places for the siblings at the Dignity for Children Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that provides holistic care and education for urban poor children in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.
During the dinner, Cheah handed the siblings some pocket money donated by a friend who pledged to support them for six months.
“Not only has this neighbourhood helped the siblings, but we also have friends from outside who were moved by their story,” said Cheah.
Sheila, the driving force behind the group’s efforts, said several others who had been part of the struggle could not attend the dinner due to family commitments.
“We may have another celebration later. For now, we can finally relax – the job is done,” she said with a smile.
“As you can see, our group is multiracial. We are colour-blind when it comes to helping those in need.”
Sheila said she would not rule out helping more stateless children but stressed that the government must first review existing laws to make it easier for such children to gain citizenship.
“We should not punish the innocent just because their mother is no longer around, or their parents didn’t have a marriage certificate,” she said.
“Their father had to formally adopt them before we could proceed. But I’m glad that now, the five of them have a brighter future ahead.”
Muhibbah – which embodies harmony, togetherness, and goodwill – is a word often used to describe Malaysia. Too often, it’s just a slogan. But not in Bandar Menjalara, where it thrives, thanks to the tireless efforts of the ‘aunties and uncles’ who stood by the Ee siblings every step of the way.
Main image: From left (standing): Datuk Rosli Ismail, CP Cheah, CK Cheah, Kenny Lee, Ting Sang, Ting Fok, Ting Choi, Raja Aishatul Laily Raja Rom, Laila Wathiqah Judin, and Alagan Konasaigran. (Seated): Sheila, Abdul Rahman Ishak, Sun Seng, Ting Kat, and Si May.
