The world of Tzu Chi April 2021 (Vol.133)

2021 • 04 26 eature C hoo Weng Loon, a social worker with Tzu Chi KL & Selangor, graduated from the Department of Social Work, UUM. He was also a student of Teoh Ai Hua. His previous job was mainly to help non-citizens with nationality and identity issues such as taking them to government offices to apply and obtain identity documents. In the job, he needed to analyse the seriousness of overstaying for those he served and explained to them the importance of having legal status for their children. Upholding the principle and keep it going “We are so blessed! We are always grateful that Tzu Chi has a solid team of volunteers working at the frontline and handling cases together with us!” exclaimed a Tzu Chi social worker. “If both parents are foreigners, their children will not be able to obtain Malaysian citizenship, and if they do not return to their home country and obtain an identity card, the children will become stateless once their parents pass away. Then, it will be very difficult for them to obtain legal status. In other words, they will not be able to receive any protection nor welfare.” In addition, Weng Loon also had to let the non-citizens understand the issue on medical Translated by Jilly Bong In Tzu Chi, volunteers at the frontlines are supported by professional staff. They complement each other and multiply the force of kindness through mutual cooperation. At end of 2014, Tzu Chi staff helped prepare relief cash cards and blessing letters for flood victims in southern and east coast regions of Peninsular Malaysia. [Photo by Woo Yoke Bee]