Legal hurdles stand between the Penan and citizenship

For many members of the Sarawak indigenous group, the Penan, the battle to escape poverty starts with a basic need - the fight to become citizens.

Living in remote areas of the state, the group faces various infrastructure issues to register for citizenship, and when they are able to register, they then face a legal challenge, said groups advocating for their rights.

Simon Siah from the NGO LK4C said the main legal barriers for the situation are conditions set in the Federal Constitution.

The Constitution states that if a marriage is not registered, then ...