WE HAVE been reading in newspapers recently that the government is in the process of making it easier for professionals to get permanent residence in Malaysia; even international students excelling in their studies will soon be able to get PR. 

But what about the foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens? We are in the country for decades on a Long-Term Social Visit Pass, and our visas state that any form of employment is strictly prohibited. We are not here for social purposes, but in the capacity of principal care-givers and providers for our Malaysian families.

Spouses of Malaysian citizens face a whole range of challenges with regard to the application and renewal of the “social visit pass” and application for permanent residency, leave alone citizenship. 

Apart from the frequent renewal of visas for non-citizen spouses for decades, we need to have our Malaysian spouses physically present even for renewals. This puts pressure on our families, especially if the sponsoring Malaysian spouse is ill or away on business.

Female spouses are required to furnish immigration with a letter from our spouses granting us per-mission to work! Then again, a spouse who is estranged from the Malaysian or whose spouse has passed on, cannot get an endorsement to work for want of this letter. What then becomes of their Malay-sian children who are dependent on them? Who will provide for them? 

At present spouses pay double the charges for healthcare in government hospitals, and unemployed spouses cannot open individual bank accounts. We pay tourist rates at tourist attractions, though we are resident in Malaysia; what more if we wish to study
further, we will pay international student rates! All this despite being a part of the Malaysian family.

Many foreign spouses were excited when they read in the media that the Home Ministry had expedited approvals. However, upon checking with immigration, we could not get a confirmation as to when a letter would be sent to us – alas more than six months later, our letter boxes remain empty.

In recent times, we have seen positive steps in certain areas, such as permitting Malaysian women overseas to register their children at the Malaysian high commission. However there is still scope for review in areas pertaining to hastening the process for permanent residency.

In the interest of many Malaysian families, it is expedient that guidelines, policy and procedure are clearly elucidated with regard to the permanent residency and citizenship of foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens, to provide a stable environment and prevent hardship to their families.

Source: The Sun – July 16, 2010