Adopted children in Sarawak can now receive ‘K’ status on ICs, says Fatimah

KUCHING: Adopted children with the absence of details about their biological parents can now receive the “K” status in their identity card, says Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.

The Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development said this during a press conference today (Oct 9) after a meeting with the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF).

She went on to address the complexities surrounding the issuance of the ‘K’ indicator on identification cards (ICs) for adopted children in Sarawak, highlighting ongoing challenges and recent solutions.

“The ‘K’ indicator, specific to Sarawak residents, is issued based on the biological parents’ information.

“To resolve these issues, Sarawak’s cabinet has proposed allowing adopted children to receive the ‘K’ indicator, regardless of the availability of information on their biological parents.

“This move particularly benefits those adopted by couples who already possess the ‘K’ indicator. The proposal was approved by the cabinet on Sept 26,” she said.

For adopted children, especially those abandoned and later placed in welfare institutions, the absence of details about their biological parents creates complications.

Without this information, she said, these children, despite gaining Malaysian citizenship, are ineligible for the ‘K’ indicator, which can impact their access to certain state benefits and employment opportunities.

She added that this decision will bring much-needed relief to adoptive parents and their children, ensuring they can access the benefits available to Sarawak residents.

Additionally, she provided a brief history of the ‘K’ indicator, which dates back to the 1990s when regional codes were removed from ICs, creating complications for residents of Sabah and Sarawak.

Subsequent legislation allowed for the reinstatement of these regional identifiers under specific conditions, with Sarawak residents receiving the ‘K’ indicator based on their parents’ status.