KUALA LUMPUR — A total of 1,512 children of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia have had their Indonesian citizenship status officially confirmed, according to Indonesia’s Ministry of Law.

Indonesian Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas said the confirmation was crucial to ensure the children received legal protection and were able to exercise their rights as citizens, as reported by Berita Harian.

The process was carried out in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau in Sabah, as well as Johor Bahru, Johor.

The ministry was concerned that some Indonesian children in Malaysia had been unable to fully establish their citizenship status, leaving them without legal certainty.

“The Indonesian Government is concerned that some of our children have been unable to fully obtain their rights as citizens and do not have legal certainty.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Law, together with four other ministries, is here to reaffirm our commitment to providing assistance to those affected,” he said.

Supratman was speaking to the media after the ‘Pasti Ada Solusi’ programme at the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia on September 4.

Also present were Indonesian Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto and Indonesia’s Ambassador to Malaysia Raden Datuk Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo.

Supratman said the absence of citizenship status was more than an administrative issue, as it could affect the children’s access to education, healthcare, population documents, social assistance and legal protection.

“Beginning with the confirmation of citizenship status, it will provide a pathway for our children to attend school and continue their education at higher levels.

“It will also enable them to receive assistance and legal protection while they are abroad,” he said.

Besides addressing citizenship status, Supratman also took part in a ‘Pasti Ada Solusi’ dialogue with about 300 Indonesian migrant workers at the embassy.

The session allowed the workers to raise their concerns, complaints and questions directly with representatives from the five ministries involved, with participation also available online.