Activist Agnes Padan, who is Parti Bangsa Malaysia women’s chief, said the temporary document was issued to Lina following several interviews by JPN.

She said JPN officers spoke with her, Lina, Lina’s village chief in Lawas, a village elder in Lawas, and Lina’s daughter.

“After today’s session, we received the temporary document. Yes, she (Lina) can travel to Miri now (for her treatment),” Malaysiakini reported Agnes as saying.

Lina, who suffers from colon cancer, claimed that last November, a JPN officer confiscated her identification card when she attempted to change her address.

Subsequently, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Lina’s IC was seized as she was believed to be an Indonesian national based on what was stated on her children’s birth certificates.

In response, Indonesian ambassador Hermono instructed the consul-general in Kuching to seek Lina out and verify JPN’s claims that she is an Indonesian national.

“Based on Indonesia’s citizenship law, Lina technically cannot be said to be an Indonesian because she never had documents that showed she’s an Indonesian. We also do not know her background, particularly her parents.

“However, Indonesia’s citizenship law also does not allow a person to be stateless. Going on case by case, the embassy can issue personal identification documents by requests on humanitarian principles,” Malaysiakini reported Hermono as saying.

“Regarding Lina’s case, if it has been determined that she is not a Malaysian citizen and she claims to be an Indonesian, then Indonesia can grant her citizenship to prevent her from becoming stateless,” he added.

Hermono said the priority would be to provide Lina with medical assistance while her citizenship status is pending.

Yesterday, Sarawak health director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said Lawas Hospital and Miri Hospital had never refused Lina treatment despite the uncertainty over her citizenship status.