No IC, no aid: Homeless in Kuching trapped in identity and digital divide, UM students reveal

First-year law students from Universiti Malaya kicking off the outreach program with an interactive sharing and lecture session on basic legal identity rights at the transit hub.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 11: Homeless individuals in Kuching are facing a double barrier of identity loss and digital exclusion that is effectively cutting them off from legal recognition and government welfare, a Universiti Malaya (UM) student outreach programme has revealed.

The issue came to light during a legal literacy intervention at Tempat Transit Gelandangan (TTG) Kuching, where first-year law students under the “Common Ground” initiative engaged directly with transit residents.

The programme, part of the UMLAW@KCH SULAM outreach, found that many individuals repeatedly lose their MyKad due to theft or unstable living conditions — a problem that quickly escalates into legal and financial hardship.

Under the National Registration Act 1959, an identity card is a compulsory requirement for legal recognition. However, students observed that replacement costs under Section 25 of the Act, along with administrative barriers, make recovery difficult for those already in vulnerable situations.

Beyond documentation issues, the students also uncovered a widening digital divide that prevents homeless individuals from accessing critical welfare systems such as eKasih, which serves as a gateway for assistance including Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA).

Many residents, the students found, do not own smartphones or have consistent internet access, effectively excluding them from online registration and verification systems.

In several cases, individuals reportedly had active welfare accounts but were unable to access funds due to forgotten passwords and lack of digital recovery support.

The findings suggest that while welfare systems are expanding digitally, the most vulnerable groups risk being left further behind.

To bridge the gap, the UM law students set up mobile laptop stations at TTG Kuching to manually assist residents in checking eligibility and accessing welfare information. Cases involving account recovery issues were documented and referred to facilitators for follow-up action.

The team also distributed bilingual brochures outlining identity card replacement procedures and provisions for fee waivers under Section 6(2)(q) of Act 78, alongside basic care packs containing food and toiletries.

While the initiative provided short-term assistance, the students noted that the challenges observed point to deeper structural issues linking identity documentation, poverty, and digital access.

Head of TTG Kuching, Nurie Hadi Latip, later presented a certificate of appreciation to “Common Ground” Project Director Jivraj Gobinath in recognition of the programme’s engagement with the transit community. — DayakDaily