PETALING JAYA: Activist Agnes Padan’s heart sank the moment she stepped into 80-year-old Basar Arun’s dilapidated home at Batu Mulong in Lawas, Sarawak.
She had heard that the former Sarawak Border Scout – the sole breadwinner for his wife and three of their eight children, including one who is disabled – was struggling during the movement control order (MCO).
Still, she was shocked to see the condition of the home, particularly the wooden bed of Basar’s disabled son which left him with bedsores.
“During the MCO, Basar couldn’t get any odd-jobs, so the family was in a really difficult situation,” Agnes said.
“He should be getting welfare but, unfortunately, he does not have citizenship despite being born in this country and serving with the Border Scouts from 1963 to 1967.”
She said Basar, from the Lun Bawang community, is among a number of former Border Scouts who do not have citizenship.
Like many natives in the rural areas in that era, Basar was born at home and never possessed a birth certificate.
He has only had a green identity card and was later given a red MyKad, the same one given to permanent residents.
All he has, Agnes said, are documents on his service in the Border Scouts as well as a treasured General Service Medal with Borneo Clasp conferred by Queen Elizabeth II.
“We hope that the government will expedite their citizenship application. We read that their case has been brought to the attention of Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin.
“They have served their country during the Confrontation, they deserve the same benefits and assistance as every other servicemen,” she said.
Agnes has produced a short video of an interview with Basar, who was among 150 natives recruited to secure Sarawak’s borders in the Limbang area.
In the video, Basar said he has gone to the National Registration Department to change his red MyKad but was rejected even though he provided documentation to show he had served as a Border Scout.
“They were not bothered,” he said.
Agnes and a few other good Samaritans are trying to help the family, and have forked out over RM10,000 of their own money to repair the home as well as order a medical bed for Basar’s son, who was left disabled after an accident.
“But we hope once he gets his MyKad, the family will have access to welfare aid,” she said.
For those who wish to support Agnes in helping Basar and his family, do drop us a WhatsApp message on FMT’s Helpline at 0193899839.