According to a report in The Star, she was born and raised in Malaysia and has only now been given citizenship. Her early years were spent in Batu Gajah but she now lives in Pahang.

“My only regret is that my husband and two of my sons are not around to share my joy. They have passed away,” she was quoted as saying at the Special Implementation Task Force (SITF) office here after receiving her document from MIC president Dr S Subramaniam.

Pachaiamah, who grew up in Batu Gajah, Perak, said her parents had not registered her birth as they were steeped in poverty and didn’t know how important this was.

She had, over the years, applied more than 10 times for citizenship but all her applications had been rejected due to a lack of supporting documents, the report said.

“Now, I can go home to show this precious document to my four other children. This is the best gift I have ever received and I will hold on to this tonight when I sleep,” The Star quoted her as saying.

Pachaiamah, who lives with her children in a low-cost house in Sungai Gapoi in Bentong, Pahang, on a monthly welfare aid of RM350, thanked the government and the MIC for their assistance.

According to Dr Subramaniam, Pachaiamah’s case was one of the 7,000 cases involving citizenship which had been resolved. He said there were still about 4,000 cases under review.

“Since the setting up of SITF, we have received reports on 1,107 cases and about 60% have been resolved. Most of the cases brought to SITF’s attention involve welfare aid, education and medical aid, as well as application for documents such as identity card, birth certificate and citizenship,” The Star quoted him as saying.

Dr Subramaniam, who opened the 11SITF office, said 10 more SITF offices would be set up nationwide this year in areas with a high population of Indians.