Eight Years On, Malaysian ESports Player Wins Citizenship Battle
Muhammad Rameez Published September 02, 2020 | 05:04 PM
A rising eSports player has won a years-long battle for Malaysian citizenship, a victory that allows him to compete internationally and highlights problems faced by hundreds of thousands of stateless children in the country
Putrajaya, Malaysia, Sept 2 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Sep, 2020 ):A rising eSports player has won a years-long battle for Malaysian citizenship, a victory that allows him to compete internationally and highlights problems faced by hundreds of thousands of stateless children in the country.
Muhammad Aiman Hafizi Ahmad was part of a team competing in the popular PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), which pits participants against each other in a virtual fight to the death.
But when they won the chance to take part in two tournaments in China last year, the 20-year-old had to skip them -- he could not travel overseas, as he was officially stateless.
Aiman was born in Malaysia to an Indonesian mother and adopted by local parents, but he had never been recognised as a Malaysian citizen and could not get a passport.
He had applied to become Malaysian years earlier and was refused. But after being forced to miss the tournaments, he renewed his efforts by launching a widely publicised legal battle.
Authorities then decided to grant him citizenship, making the court fight unnecessary.
"I have waited to get this certificate of citizenship for eight years," a delighted Aiman said Tuesday in the administrative capital Putrajaya, clutching the document.
With the legal battle behind him, Aiman said he looked forward to "resuming playing in the competitive scene".
While travel overseas for competitions looks unlikely in the near future due to the coronavirus pandemic, the decision nevertheless opens the door for Aiman to develop his career in the booming eSports scene.
- 'Opaque' process - Born to an Indonesian mother and an unknown father, Aiman was adopted by a couple from Malaysia's ethnic Malay Muslim majority in the town of Taiping, in the central state of Perak.
Though his birth was later registered by his adoptive parents, his documents described him as stateless.
As well as leaving him without a passport, this made it more difficult to get access to healthcare, education and work, and he could not even open a bank account.
Unlike some countries, Malaysia -- which is home to millions of migrant workers from poorer parts of Asia -- does not automatically grant citizenship to people born there.
At least 290,000 stateless children live in Malaysia, many with parents from Indonesia, Philippines and Myanmar, according to media reports citing officials. There are believed to be many stateless adults as well, although the overall figure is not clear.
Malaysia's constitution says the government can choose to register anyone under the age of 21 as a citizen. But Aiman's lawyer, New Sin Yew, said the process was "quite opaque and takes a very long time".
"The fastest (application) can take about three years and the government often rejects applications without reasons," he told AFP.
He added: "I think if this case was not brought to the attention by the media, it would have been much more difficult, because there would not have been public support." Aiman's parents first tried to register him as a citizen him when he was 12, but the application was refused.
He got into gaming by playing on his phone, and then discovered PUBG.
Aiman, who now lives outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, then started playing in PUBG competitions and joined a team, and hones his skills by practising four to five hours a day.
And he is hopeful for a bright future in eSports.
"I want to make my family proud and my country too," he said.
"That is my dream."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From Sports
-
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
4 hours ago -
National Hockey camp to be organized for Azlan Shah tournament
5 hours ago -
Islamabad Tennis Club demolished by CDA amid anti-encroachment action at public park: Tarar
8 hours ago -
Shayan, Rashid, Junaid to represent Pakistan in U12 Regional Qualifying Jrs
8 hours ago -
Olympic Games Paris 2024: How teams qualified
8 hours ago -
ICC T20 World Cup 2024 trophy unveiled in Islamabad
7 hours ago
-
Pakistan to tour New Zealand for 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is next March
8 hours ago -
Xavi and Barca remain tied in marriage of convenience
7 hours ago -
Pakistan Master Tenpin Bowling C'ship postponed
7 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results
7 hours ago -
1st-ever National Sports Revival conference starts next month
9 hours ago -
Usain Bolt named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
10 hours ago