“This might even require constitutional change, to bring Malaysia in line with international conventions.

“Genuine cooperation between parties will be needed to effect any real change in favour of the Malaysian public,” Peter John Jaban said in a statement today.

Jaban, the publicity and information chief for the Sarawak Association for People’s Aspirations, said one flaw in the system is its failure to take into account the “adat” or local culture in Sarawak.

He claimed existing cases of statelessness have not been addressed while new ones continue arising.

He also said it is common for applicants to be refused identity cards, with no further action taken.

“If the NRD has designated these people as non-citizens, how can they possibly justify allowing them to remain in the country?” he added.

He said many of these people had been born and raised in the state, often to parents who were born and raised there as well.

Calling the system “broken and unresponsive”, he said the issue had been neglected for many years under the previous administration.

“The sincerity of Pakatan Harapan about raising the quality of life for thousands of rural Sarawakian voters in the run-up to the next state election will be shown in its response to key problems like statelessness,” he added.

“It is time for reform, and it is time that the needs of the citizens are put first.”

He said if the PH government wants to distinguish itself, then this would be a good place to start.