PETALING JAYA: Kasturi enjoys reading the Ladybird series of children's books for 5 and 6-year-olds. But Kasturi is 12.

She only learnt to read the words "toy", "dog" and "shop" recently.

Kasturi is no slow-learner, just that she only recently began to learn to read.

She is the eldest of four children, none of whom have ever been to school.

She learned her ABCs two years ago from a kind neighbour in Kampung Jawa, Klang, where she used to live.
In the past two months, Kasturi has been getting reading lessons at the Pusat Jagaan Kanak Kanak Sayang Lovely Nursing Centre in Sungai Way.

She said she loved to read and was eager to start going to school. "I want to go to school and meet new friends."

But Kasturi, her sister Malliga, 11, and brothers Vijay, 9, and Suria, 8, have no birth certificates. At least, none that the people at the centre know of.

The children's mother had left them at the centre in August, without leaving their birth certificates, or any other form of identification.

A. Raja, who runs the centre, said he wished that the children's mother had told him where they were born so that he could trace the birth certificates.

"Without the documents the children won't be able to have an education and later get a job. Their future is bleak."

The siblings, however, are not the only ones at the centre without identification documents. Nine other abandoned children face the same problem.

Thanush, 3, was also brought to the centre without his birth certificate, said Raja.

"I am at a loss as to how to help these children.

"Without their documents they are as good as stateless. I hope the authorities can help us."

Raja said it would be difficult to take the children to government hospitals and clinics if they fall ill.

For the time being, the children are given meals and taught lessons at a double-storey rented house in SS3.