A little blue card, with his name and a few numbers that say who he is and where he lives. To Mr Ricqo Rafiezuwan, a 25-year-old whom The Straits Times featured in September in an article about stateless individuals and the challenges they face, the blue identity card he...
To Mr Ricqo Rafiezuwan, a 25-year-old whom The Straits Times featured in September in an article about stateless individuals and the challenges they face, the blue identity card he now guards jealously is more than just a document.As he spoke to ST on Dec 18, Mr Rafiezuwan proudly held up his blue identity card. There it was – his name in big, bold letters.“Because this is what I have wanted for a very long time, for 25 years,” said Mr Rafiezuwan, fighting to hold back his tears.
The other person, who wanted to be known only as Mr Phua, had put in his PR application some time back.One of the first things Mr Rafiezuwan did after receiving his IC was to open a bank account. “I want to experience that one day,” said Mr Rafiezuwan, who added that he wants to work and save up money first.
Stateless adults in Singapore who are not PRs are not entitled to subsidised education, healthcare and housing.There were seven under the age of 12 in Singapore and another 13 between the ages of 12 and 18 as at Dec 31, 2023, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary reply on Oct 15.
He grew up not being able to read and write. As a result, he did not have the confidence to travel beyond Clementi, where he lived until recently.He now travels five days a week from his one-room rental flat in Bukit Merah to two locations – Middle Road in the Rochor district, and Geylang – where he performs housekeeping duties for co-living operator The Assembly Place.
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