Borneo Post reported that Sarawak’s women, childhood, and community wellbeing development minister Fatimah Abdullah had made inquiries on the seizure of the MyKad from the cancer patient with the home ministry and JPN.

“Sarawak JPN has briefed me on this. Lina was given a temporary document to enable her to continue receiving treatment for Stage 4 colon cancer there.

“JPN discovered something that caused the MyKad to be taken away from Lina.

“I think the matter is currently under investigation. Nevertheless, we hope it will be resolved soon,” she was quoted as saying.

Fatimah said Lina’s case was not under the jurisdiction of the Special Committee for Citizenship, which comes under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.

Instead, her case comes under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution, where it is stated that a person may acquire citizenship by naturalisation, a legal process by which Malaysian citizenship is granted to a non-citizen once certain requirements are fulfilled.

Therefore, Fatimah said this case was still under the purview of the home ministry.

Lina was a cancer patient who made headlines after claiming her MyKad was wrongly seized by the authorities amid a dispute over her nationality.

She died at 7am yesterday at the Lawas Hospital at the age of 65.

Activist Agnes Padan, who championed Lina’s cause, said Lina’s family was preparing to bring her remains back to their home in Long Sebangang in Lawas.

Lina is survived by two sons and two daughters – all of whom are stateless.

Earlier this month, Lina said she was concerned about travelling to Miri for medical treatment after claiming that a JPN officer in Lawas had confiscated her MyKad in November when she wanted to change her address to cast her vote.