Stateless in Singapore: No job, no education, no country
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Ricqo Rafiezuwan has lived in Singapore his entire life yet he is stateless. This means the 25-year-old has no NRIC, no passport and no nationality. It also means that Ricqo is not entitled to subsidised education, healthcare and housing. Read more: str.sg/MUHn
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This wasn’t his fault. Please don’t lose a true Singaporean.
That’s Given But why ST not interview MP also ? ie. This matter of Public Interest & Public Trust …
ST , Any attempt made to Interview his MP ? Or is this a Propaganda Video to reinforce Government’s “PRIVILEGES” Mindset ?
@@Hs5687 Interview the MP for the past 25 years.... shiok hor.... but, GE around the corner la. hahahhaha.
@@kingsufi6164 As a Singaporian citizen I never knew about this. By the way my mom is a citizen of another country and my dad is a citizen.
It's really kinda disgusting to know recently that you can give PR and/or citizenship to foreigners who disrespect locals and local customs yet ICA/govt can't give at least give a freaking PR to one who's been born and raised here and through mistake or oversight not of his own doing.
Must a least give citizen to psle ma my cousin drop out now working at amk as security guard pay 3k. He serve 2 years pol in 2018 now working he dont like study for me i highest is degree but i dont like work so i stay home. We only give citizen to those can contribute to our economy long term
If the only main criteria is money or economic contributions to society and nothing else...then obviously such issues will occur, where these new citizens deep down have zero love or respect for locals. Maybe they need to include a psychological profiling for all potential citizens too. Since education and salary have little correlation with inner morality, so we need to scan their hearts and souls too.
PAP loves PRC, even MP and Minister got PRC spouse. After people kpkb now said Singapore citizen liao, don't know real or bluff.
@@moonlightaffairs wait, don't your people also do the same?
@@Cxs1a3 tru go back to kl we dont need u guys
He’s willing to do NS, give him a citizenship. He’s young and has ambitions. Sg needs young people.
straits times forgot to tell how did his mother able to come to Singapore in the first place if she is already stateless, So did she give birth to him while she is still stateless in Singapore? If she did, we shouldn't be even supporting these selfish stateless people trying to bring more people when house prices are already expensive.
@@StickMan_Clara Are you retarded? These people aren't the ones bringing the prices of property up. It's the millionaire and billionaire foreigners purchasing multiple properties and then leaving them empty.
@@StickMan_Clara
Selfish
@@StickMan_Clara It is not the child's fault. You seriously lack empathy.
@StickMan_Clara that is the largest false reasoning I've heard
I sincerely hope the government will give him citizenship. For someone who did not go to school, he speaks relatively good English. He is not stupid and he is still young. If he’s got a chance for an education, he could have a better life and contribute to society in Singapore.
Ya he speak like me for basic convo i thought this is a joke but he is indeed special
He is already 25 so he already miss the free education system. Now if he gets PR he can find a job and lives a normal live. I understand that he want to get a job to support his old age adoptive parents. ❤
@@celestialstar124what free education?
the way he speaks he seems like he got a very low self-esteem. Maybe due to his entire life experiences of being completely different from everyone else around him, ever since he was a little kid. Which is kind of sad
@@zanaros2606 tru he is like my twin few years older than me but what he experience like me but i finish my school with decent parent not supportive maybe he is sad he dont get to live to fullest as he realise he not longer a teen. My friend is his age still act like one dont work stay home play phone dont have computer his name hassan stay marine. He got work warehouse but quit after 1 week. Its tough out here
Give this person a citizenship! He deserved one. You have my support! He’s the future of Singapore! If govt can give pr easily to foreigners who doesn’t know how to speak our dialect and thinks that the world revolves around them, why not this humble Samaritan?!
Not only him but Others like him who are just in limbo & wasting away …
Hey ST, let's do a follow-up on his case few months later. Hope he is able to get the opportunities he badly wanted. He already has the correct mindset...
3 minutes u can tell he has correct mindset? Video can be choreographed to achieve those sympathetic moments..MP tried for him, ICA don’t immediately give him citizenship,, there’s more to meets the eye..not straightforward case..unknown truth about him can only be revealed by ICA
very sad
he did nothing wrong and yet, he bears the whole brunt of issues from the previous generation
hope he will get something at least to study and work
He is naughty he said so its wrong must be discipline and smart not dum
It broke my heart when he kept saying he was stupid. It wasn’t your fault and I really hope we can help people like him
I pray for this young man, and hope his life will take a turn for the better after this ST report.
He speaks very well for someone who has never stepped into a school before. Dare I say even better than some. This shows his determination and discipline to learn. I hope the govt steps in to help him.
I actually "take my hats off" toward Ricqo - he is a VERY HUMBLE and very grounded individual, with his thinking i cannot possibly believe he actually never went to school before. From the way he talks, his tone and his posture you know he really don't even mean any harm at all (not that type that brags about and at the same time brainless and not in line with reality.) Ricqo is actually a VERY realistic individual based on what he wants.
government gotta give my man citizenship after being on straits times
Born and live in sg for 25yrs but not given a chance, what a society we lived in..
They scared to give as they dk his ability to commit to our laws. Must at least finish psle or nursery but he has none not even madrasah
Tragic… Maybe Government has Motive to deny Him Citizenship… Very Common in Cases involving Children of Parents Who are Politically Targeted .. ie. Whistleblowers , Key Witnesses of Government Crimes, Ppl who knows State Secrets etc …
more like born and live in sg for 25yrs but not enough black n white to prove, thats how the society we live in work, based on official documents and not word of mouth or personal emotion (pity someone or something), in professional environment this is called conflict of interest
With WP constantly spreading xenophobic sentiment, it's forcing government to set very high standard for citizenship and PR. This young lad is one victim of WP campaign.
SHAME on the govt & MP for NOT trying to help this young man, its not his fault that he is "stateless", its the parents faults, and NOW he has to suffer... enough is enough, 25 years is long enough, even a PR application only needs 5 years minimum period of stay in Singapore. YES?!
Ricqo, you are intelligent, articulate and speak well. Do not give up, try keep on trying and hope you get your PR or citizenship soon.
How is this even possible in Singapore?! I'm shocked!!!
No one help him thats why he is left wild like in jb low ses come to sg to work mcd
@@FV1KAWASAKIH2 it's not about him. It's about the government.
Its been happening since 1965 lol
@@crystal8537 don't exaggerate
Indeed, it is very shocking to know about this. 😢
Why dont give this decent young man a chance? At least he looks more sincere than many who got their PR easily and not truly value it.
Mindef should give him the opportunity to serve NS so that he has a legit justification to apply for citizenship. He is way better than some Singaporeans and PRs who ditch the country to escape NS. I believe he has what it takes to be a good Singaporean given the opportunity. After all, his situation is not his fault. He shouldn't be shouldering the consequences created by his birth mother. Ricqo, be strong. Don't give up. To the government, please have a heart.
Ns is hard bro i went for two years with risk pay only 1.2k so little should give at least 2k maybe he can sign on as storeman after since he cant work
@@FV1KAWASAKIH2Well, if he's willing to volunteer to serve in the SAF, he have to at least obtain a PR. If he applied on his own, he will be considered a 1st-gen PR, where individuals under this category are administratively exempted from NS. However, he can choose to volunteer in the SAF under the SAFVC (SAF Volunteer Corps), especially since it appears that he's willing to serve in the Army.
If either his adoptive or biological parents sponsor him a PR (which based on the young man's case, I highly doubt that will ever happened) , then he's considered a 2nd-gen PR, where unlike the 1st-gen PRs, these 2nd-gen PRs are liable for NS.
@@FV1KAWASAKIH2 Where there is a will, there is a way.
I am thinking of the same thing. He may want to sign on as a career and go for further studies, but I am sure the social worker may have looked into every possibility to help him too. Hope everything will work out for him.
This guy has a mindset that beats most people with an education in singapore.
isn't it ironic that the govt welcome foreigners to become sg citizen but people like him who born and bred here though in different circumstances are not given the chance. I thought anyone born here is given a choice to become a sg citizen? total b.s. something need to change. he's not the only one being treated like a pariah.
You need a paperwork, being born here doesn't mean you are a Singaporean automatically , one of your parent need to be at least a Singaporean.
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
This is a legality issue that probably stemmed from when Singapore got its independence. People at that time had to choose their nationality, Singapore or Malaysia. Some people did not choose their nationality, probably due to being not informed or other reasons, so these people became stateless. The mother is probably the child of such a stateless person.
But there should be a pathway for stateless people like Ricqo to get their citizenship and it shouldn't be so difficult. Especially when said individual is a law-abiding good person.
His biological mother already Singapore PR. Yet this poor man is still stateless.
If it wasn't the police checking in 2019 he won't get any form of assistance.
One problem with approving this case, is that illegal immigrants can all just come to Singapore and give birth to children locally just to get pr or citizenships. And not every of these immigrants or their children will be like this gentle and harmless dude here. So we need a better filtering system to know the inner psychology and consciousness level of every legal/illegal immigrant applying for PR or Citizenship, rather than just based on their materialistic money contributions to society.
Ricqo, you're not stupid, you just didn't have the opportunity. Be strong, have faith, we're more than willing to embrace you with a warm welcome 🤗 hey, you're streetwise! For that you deserve a pat on your shoulder. You have strong and positive mindset, hang in there 💪🏻
Don’t worry about your hand writing. I think my one worst than u. I think are very articulate. U sound like any regular Singaporean. May blessings be with u. Hope u get citizenship soon.
PLS HELP HIM! OMG!!!
He is still so young, and trying to stay afloat and never go astray amidst his tough growing up.. Please 🙏🏻
Don’t force him to go the wrong way, PM Lee Hsien Long 🙏🏻
Yes🙏🙏🙏
wrong PM but ya i agree let him apply PR
Reminds me of the best lawyer of Singapore Subhas Anandan. He was actually stateless until 2002, and considering he is born in 1947, he endured so much hardship for 55 years until he finally got Singapore citizenship in 2002
Give him Singapore citizenship. He’s a young working age man. He will contribute to the work force and pay taxes
This man speak better than people that have education
Sad but true 😭
I kinda understand Singapore's stance on cases like this, as they don't want illegals to have babies in Singapore and be given citizenship just by birth, but special cases need special solutions. Poor guy, it is not as if the guy poses a threat or is a menace to society. And the guy was born in Singapore, raised in Singapore, lived in Singapore, with a Singaporean identity. I hope he will be given his citizenship as he deservedly deserves.
Looking forward to the vid when he is recognized as a Singaporean citizen.
as they don't want illegals to have babies in Singapore and be given citizenship just by birth, but special cases need special solutions.
This is the reason why he's not getting it. It's not him, but the message that the government send.
God bless this guy
I read a news article on stateless in Singapore many years ago. It stated that the problem would solve itself over time, as the stateless people are in the older group. Surprised to see there are still young ones borned stateless
Shock to near my age i first time heard of these. Hope he can at least get psle cert as its the easiest. N level harder so forget it many drop
A few yeard ago, ST also reported on a 12 yr old stateless finally getting PR
@@crystal8537i think is a 2017 report
Oh dear the young and innocent being made to pay the price of elders. Very damaging to the young innocent person.
He was born & been living in Singapore till now. Please help & grants him a PR or Citizenship.
Why can give out PR and citizenship so easily to those foreigners but not to our local young man.
Are you implying that children who are born and live in SG will automatically become Singaporean or PR?
Would this apply to the children born in SG by foreigners such as FDW and woman working in the night life industry?
@@ryojinkiiro940
Rather to have him as a citizen than you with no empathy and foreign ers who just taking Singapore as stepping stone. With another local born and grown man better than getting rubbish to form 6.04 millions now & towards 6.90 millions in future.
Hope you can be in his shoes to better understand what he has been throught in these 25 years.
Wait that's crazy he doesn't have an IC or passport?!!! Didn't even go to school??? What's the govt doing? Seriously pls pls someone help him
Wish you the best and may your wishes come true
Despite his lack of education, he has a good head on his shoulders and a good heart with right intentions. Just no luck and no opportunities. SG can do better than to fail a young person like that. Cmon SG!
Very sad and pity this guy. Imagine if he gotten sick. Ridiculous beyond words, 25 years of living here without any meaning
What is The Straits Times doing by showing this video and not helping this young man? It’s heartbreaking to see a stateless young man, facing such challenges without access to basic rights like education and jobs. ST is also tied to the government, so more should be done to support him. He deserves a fair chance at permanent residency or citizenship to live a dignified life. I see a lot of potential in this young man as compared to majority of the people he’s age that’s a citizen or PR ( some take it for granted). Since Christmas is coming, this would be a good gift, giving him a fair chance to build his life and contribute to society.
When this news first came out on Straits Times, I had to read it like thrice to understand! I can't believe that there are such cases in Singapore which I thought was impossible in this current modern time. Poor boy omg.
Give this man a citizenship!!!
It's no fault of this young man to be in this predicament. The government should render help to him by providing him an opportunity for citizenship and basic education so that he can get a good job and a better life ahead for himself.
Please review his case with compassion and give him hope for better days ahead. He has gone through enough.
I am sure this guy will be successful one day.
This guy deserves a chance. Hope Govt can help him.
Brutal of the gov for not allowing him to learn in school.
he was living every kid's dream, tf u on?
@@Cxs1a3 Maybe your kid is stupid.
I wish you success and happiness, Ricqo 🙏🏼 May all you wishes come true soon 🥳
His mother already a Singapore PR but he is stateless 😢
How the F do you know that?
@@sihanchen7552 read the news le uncle. It's literally on Straits Times stated that his birth mom is a Singapore PR.
What he needs is a systemic and supported process of making him a citizen. This video highlights his plight and a call to action.
Singapore government: grant this young man a PR!!! Use your head and feel for him --- he is a human!!
I m surprised. Can MP pls help him out? U surely can gv him Singapore citizenship if we can hv so many foreigner who actually can become "singaporean" yet cannot speak english despite bring here more than 10yrs , even 20yrs (unbeliverable but is a real that i came across. The joke is this kind of pple actually expects pple to talk to them in chinese in a english speaking singapore, in office setting) !!
I really hope Singapore's goverment does something to help these people out.
Very sad to see someone future ruined may u stay strong
Dont worry sg have more competent people than him he is useless adult no psle
Why so many barriers for such a good young men? It shouldn't be so complicated.
I feel sad and sorry to him. 😢
This is where Government should step in to intervene. Forget about financial and logistic support to external borders. Take care of own nations first as priority. Whatever his roots, he is born in SINGAPORE. Regardless of race, language or religion, he should have the privilege to be granted Singapore Citizenship. Social side, please look into his welfare, education and career path. He, truly, should be and IS a Singapore breed. Please accord him the belated entitlement of a citizenship. NO single Singapore citizen should be treated in this manner. Somehow, system lapsed. Be it for the caring of nation or the WORST - public toilets. Too complacent nowadays. need to seriously look into these. I pray and hope the best for this poor kid. God bless him.
This government has no soul.
His English is better than so many people I know, all the best and good luck man.
Why does Singapore not help these stateless people when they are young so that they can be independent and not be a burden to state resources? Never been to school? If government know that these people exist and no other country to be repatriated to, shouldn't they put them in school and on path to citizenship when they are still kids?
Because they dun want to set a precedence to this.
If not any Ah Meow Ah Gao from any god knows where countries will cite this case to help them secure residence in SG.
@@sihanchen7552 our borders are tightly controlled. We dont allow any ah meow ah gao to come in.
Our borders are tightly controlled. We don't allow any ah meows or ah gaos to come in.
This is so tragic. Thank God we live in the digital age so he can earn GCSEs or get a degree online. He can even apply for a job online or citizenship of a different country, but someone must sponsor him
U sponsor la talk so much poor adult
@@FV1KAWASAKIH2 If can sponsor, might as well sponsor ownself lah ~~
@@FV1KAWASAKIH2wow your braincells must be as low as your empathy, absolutely braindead
A lot of us will celebrate with you. Soon ❤
Ah Tiong Ah nee can get PR and citizenship but why can’t they give him a PR at least ? If not refer him to UN refugees lah why hold him here !
@@Cxs1a3tru go back and make sg for citizens we serve so hard with reservist alr tiring need do ippt after shift
Hope he'll be given citizenshop soon.
Please have a heart lah - give him citizenship!
He speaks well and I bet he is a fast learner!
Hoping you get your PR soon!
Thank you for reminding us to be grateful of all the privileges we have.
Case to case study, but it will seem inept if Singapore takes a long time to grant citizenship when it is appropriate to do so.
In this case this guy was born here, not of his free will.
Wanting to be educated, determined and willing to serve the Nation.
We have an intelligent guy here wanting to be a citizen and it will not be wise not to grant him citizenship when the birth rate of Singapore is on the declines.
How cruel!!! Born and raised in Singapore, he has no citizenship. Why is Singapore such a cruel country?
SG DOES NOT have birthright citizenship, this country not USA.
@@crystal8537 Surely you can make an exception of him.
Nobody guided him and let him run wild when young. Now he is older and is starting to think for himself. I hope he gets the help he needs.
Maybe learn a manual trade like basic home repairs or home cleaning where they dont need NRIC and pay good cash. At least have a job. These jobs are menial but honest work.
Correcto maybe u should go to him and help since you have the right mindset god bles
This is exactly the kind of person that Singapore government should pick up as a potential, and grant at least a Permanent Residency to!
Shame on the government! He was born there, he should have birth citizenship.
Just questioning myself... Why foreigners are so free to come to SG to work yet people like Rico cant be given a simple chance to be granted citizenship or have a decent education and employment
This is an eye opener… that one should not take for granted in his/her job in Singapore.
The SG government should do something about stateless kids so that this group , especially not by choice being stateless, will not be marginalised.
Pls do something...Mr Masagoes minister for social affairs...mayb d Minister care to explain,it happens in his charge as d minister for social affairs.....May Allah hv mercy on us...Aameen
Same thing happens in Malaysia, but they got citizenship with respect, unlike Singapore.
Dear government,
You owe this guy a citizenship.
The land he came from owes him citizenship
The government should give him citizenship
When he said that he got looked down by others damn bro I just 😢 . Like sir loves singapore more than most people but he can't even have an identity to say his Singaporeans like dat ain't fair for him man
The shame when you allow PRCs but not him to have citizenship
@Cxs1a3 Deport your head. He is born here. He is more Singaporean than probably you and the imported "Singaporeans". Only reason he isn't "Singaporean" on paper is because his mother did not register him.
@Cxs1a3 What nonsense you talking? "His people". His people are here. Friends and adopted family are here. Born, and bred here. So example if you are Chinese, your people must be in China then? Do you think China will accept you still? 😂
I'm only talking about stateless people, maybe being a ciitizen in another country is better than being stateless, there is nothing to do with race, but you showed what kind of person you are.
Why also mention prc they are contributing to Singapore economy. Seems you are anti prc. Wake up, broaden your mindset.
@Cxs1a3 I gave an example and it seemed like it hit a nerve. You thought you ate with the "what kind of person you are"? I did not bring in race, I only brought it in as an example. Maybe you are a child or a boomer but it's almost impossible for him to be a citizen of another country when all he has known is Singapore. Please think before speaking.
Rico, if you are reading this, you are smart! Your English is quite good despite not having a chance to study. Your heart is with Singapore!
So he went to his MP, ICA, lawyers and has social workers and until now, they are unable to resolve this. Who is this MP?
Bravo to the journalist for highlighting this issue.
S. Iswaran
It shows how Sgpore treats its ppl
Hey ST, you should go interview some MPs about this issue. She how they feel and what can be done.
At least find way to provide him elementary English and Math education, plus an ITE skillsets education. sad.....
he should be sent to north korea to study nuclear energy engineering for 5 yrs
True but psle not ite is harder to achieve esp with 3 year hnitec with long hours dont think he can cope with school project
I wonder what is so hard about getting a citizenship for a person who is born here?
Why he was not help when he was younger - where is the MP responsible?
Let him do NS and if he proves he can do his part, then give him his chance, please.
Willing to learn and work, what do you want more?
Cant believe Singapore pride in having good policies cant even resolve a small issue like this? That MP didn't bother to raise the matter in Parliament. Go to WP MP to raise the matter.
Want to raise issues, do it for actual citizens ok?
@@sihanchen7552 so you don't bother with him as a fellow human being just because he is not a citizen?
@@HG-kn3hb It is NOT my nor anybody's responsibility what happens to him.
You should ask whoever person that brought him here that.
Also, he already approached his area MP and ICA. They alone have the power to make right his issue.
But they are not doing it, how else do you expect other people to do about it?
The gahmen officials already do not spend adequate time to talk about citizens' issues in Parliament and yet you want to devote time from that to discuss about a single non citizen's case.
The interests of the majority who pay taxes outweighs the interest of a single person, Sorry.
@@sihanchen7552 There goes your upbringing. Staying away from you.
@@HG-kn3hb Whats the point you whine to me for?
The Actual authorities and people who ought to be doing something about this are not doing it, why are you not yapping at them?
Upbringing? This is mother freaking SG ok?
Its a dog eat dog world here, everybodys trying to survive, and yet you this joker wanna come to my face to preach about upbringing.
Since you have such "wonderful" upbringing, how about you give this guy your job, the money you own. That will make you the UNDISPUTED Number One samaritan in our midst !! Are we seeing you doing it?
No? All that people like you do, is just wave your fingers at others and run your big fat mouth and talk self righteous crap.
There are clear reasons and careful consideration is needed. Otherwise all foreigners will milk the system.
Judge a person not his birth, but his contribution.
Hope the laws can be ammended to not leave anyone out
This is very unfair . How can Singapore strip his chance of an education? If they cannot give him a state , let him go !!! So he can go and have a life ! Im so disappointed with Singapore.
Seriously, only 200 stateless people in Singapore. And Singapore Government do not know how to manage them. Surely, the PAP Government should be able to come up with a scheme for them. Such as " A Pathway to Residency" recognition of some form, where they are able to be an asset and contribute to Singapore society.
Open door. 😂😂😂😂 all come here born
@@tankman20064who want to come?
Strait Times, maybe u want to do another story about what is hindering this kid to get a PR or citizenship? Any other way for this kid to get a PR or citizenship?
Very upset about this.😢Hope he gets all the help he needed. Best wishes to Him🎉
I hope there is a campaign for him and I will definitely join!
Play media ? Later deport
@@tankman20064 diam lah
Just give him a citizen.I am very sad to listen about your plight
If i have a business, i would definitely want to help & employ him as long as he is not fussy. But sadly i dont 🤷♀️
this breaks my heart. i hope he get citizenship soon. 🤍
This happening in Singapore is absurd!
Feel sad for the young man. The fact that he is in predicament after 25 years living in Singapore highlights the ails of having too much bureaucracy.
He speak like true blue singaporean.please consider him his application for a citizenship
I am still fuming over this story because.... singapore say no child should left behind but hey even a STATELESS child who have been living in our island, shouldn't be left behind too. Now is the time he deserve to get a citizenship. Let him serve NS and while serving NS i wish he also get a free education to upskill or even take on psle to N'level education part-time. He is not stupid, Bro, you just haven't unlock your full potential. Should singaporean need to petition for this guy? IF Malaysian to indonesian easily get PR after working here for two years, hey, i rather lets support this brother la. To his MP, special pass for what sia. Shout out to singapore gov, please do the correct thing. Ricqo Rafiezuwan DESERVE a citizenship. Its not that complicated.
Whose child ?
Stay strong . Looks like odds are stack up against u. Think hard and find a way out like what many of our ancestor does.
Give him a chance..people in prison with identity also get chance..he just wants an identity..please give it to him..dear Authorities!
How can this happen in a first-world country like Singapore!? RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP HIM!!!!!!!!!