Ismail also thanked Chee for her loving care of Rohana and taking extra measures to ensure her religious upbringing.

His pledge to help Rohana was made in a video clip shared on the social media account of his press secretary, Asyraf Afnan Ahmad Murtadza, Bernama reported.

Ismail is seen in his vehicle contacting Rohana to find out about her citizenship problems. She had told FMT in an interview that she had been denied citizenship because her father, a Malaysian, had left when she was little.

Her Indonesian mother, a domestic helper at the kindergarten where Chee worked, had abandoned her when she returned to her home country.

Ismail said he found out about Rohana’s difficulties from news reports about her.

He said that his officer would contact the National Registration Department to assist with Rohana’s documentation. “If there is any (development) later, my officer will contact you,” he said in the video.

Rohana was also heard thanking the prime minister.

She had to drop out of school because she did not have identification documents, and had experienced anxiety due to the problems.

Ismail also thanked Chee for providing Rohana with an Islamic religious education even though she is of a different religion.

“InsyaAllah, for the sake of Rohana’s future, I will assist her in getting her citizenship and identity card. To Chee Hoi Lan, thank you … best regards from me for taking care of Rohana with boundless love,” he said.