LETTERS: ON behalf of Vasantha Iyasamy Iyer, I would like to express her heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for granting her citizenship.
Singapore-born Vasantha, 79, a spinster, has been living in Malaysia since she was young. She is one of the siblings of the late Datuk Paduka Mother A. Mangalam, former life president of the Pure Life Society,
She applied for citizenship a few years ago under Article 19(1).
The granting of citizenship under this category is at the discretion of the government. Despite several enquiries, there were no positive developments.
It was then that her sister, Thanalakshmi, sought the help of Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, a social activist and Alliance for A Safe Community chairman.
Lee has been a friend of Mother Mangalam and a supporter of the Pure Life Society. Through his efforts, he was able to get Vasantha's citizenship application approved.
He accompanied her to the National Registration Department on Jan 10 and helped her to change her red MyKad to a blue one.
Vasantha is wheelchair-bound and in poor health. Now that she is a citizen, she is eligible for free medical treatment at government healthcare facilities.
These benefits are given only to Malaysian senior citizens. This government initiative goes a long way to help them in their golden years.
There are also many others like Datuk Lim Yan Poh and Datin Vivian Yeow, supporters of Mother Mangalam and well-wishers of the Pure Life Society, who have helped Vasantha.
Malaysia is a great multiracial country where goodwill and the spirit of helping one another bring relief and comfort to the less fortunate.
S. SUNDARESON
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times