The retired journo who opened her home to a stranger’s children

Seven years ago, retired editor Sheila Rahman Natarajan noticed a group of young children who were stragglers in her neighbourhood playground. Then aged between four and 11, the five siblings seemed not to be studying or under any adult supervision.

While some might have just lamented the unfortunate situation, Sheila and her neighbours didn’t sit still. They learned that the five children had a Malaysian father but that their Indonesian mother had left the family.

Furthermore, they lacked the proper documentation to ensure access to studies, healthcare and other basic needs.

Sheila and her neighbours offered to look after the children while their father was at work. Over time, it became a community effort as they eventually got involved in their education and even engaged in the legal process of trying to help them sort out their citizenship. One method was even for their biological father to formally adopt them.

Currently, their citizenship application is still pending and Sheila and her husband Abdul Rahman Ishak are hoping that the newfound urgency in processing stateless cases will bear fruit so that these children do not have to grow up as outsiders in their own home.

On Oct 31, the veteran journalist was awarded the National Press Club-MacroKiosk Muhibbah Award for making a difference in the lives of these children. She told Malaysiakini in her own words about what a special journey it has been … and still is.

I have always been sympathetic to those who are stateless. I was a good Convent schoolgirl. I was born in Klang nearly 70 years ago and raised in Sungai Petani, Kedah where I attended Convent Father Barre school.

In fact, I am still in touch with people from there. I remember my teacher was a nun, but she kicked the habit and got married!

My father was a Hindu from India, from Coimbatore, but he was in a mixed marriage as my mother was a Buddhist from Burma.

He had been a captain in the British Army medical corps stationed in Malaya, but he got caught by the Japanese during World War II. As a prisoner of war, he managed to escape from prison by walking out with mourners during a funeral!

He decided to go overland to India but ended up in Rangoon, Burma where he got taken prisoner again. There he met my grandfather who advised that they use his talents.

After the war, my parents were not settled about whether to stay in India or Burma and so my older siblings were born in both those two countries. Somehow my father had fond memories of Malaya and they came back here in 1953.

I was first born here, in Klang. The seventh out of eight children; six boys and two girls.

I first came to KL after Form Three and it was a real culture shock. It was lucky I was brought up in the kampung because I believe that kept me grounded. I went to Convent Bukit Nenas first, then Universiti Malaya.

The only reason I did business administration was that my elder brothers did business.

I always wanted to be a journalist and I was one for 23 years. I thought it was such a gift when I went to the New Straits Times Press in 1976.

In journalism, you had to learn to flip through files and quickly become an expert and sum things up for the person on the street. Anything like interviewing the first engineers to do the north-south highway or musicians to the price of chicken.

From the palace to the beggar in the street, all have a story to tell and every day is a new story.

In 1994, I got a Fulbright scholarship and my family went with me to Maryland in the US. I went to Bob Dylan and Santana concerts. It was such fun. I really love music and my favourite movie is ‘Searching For The Sugarman’, about the musician Sixto Rodriguez who was adored in South Africa but an unknown in his native US.

I was curious but also oblivious sometimes, like when I walked into a gay bar, not realising what it was.

I retired early and at first, I wanted to travel. I toured Europe, but it didn’t thrill me because you are just passing through. We took up deep sea fishing and other such things. Eventually, our children grew up and suddenly this new adventure happened.

Seven years ago, we saw these children. They were walking on the street outside our house. They looked a bit waif-like and had a wolfpack vibe. They were cocooned. Imagine their cramped living quarters, and being in a room where you cannot talk loudly. They didn’t even have a voice. Aunty Sheila is partially deaf, so they have to speak up.

So we brought them to the house and they were shy of course. We all have zones of ignorance. For them, the main thing was getting them to go to school.

I see it as our duty. We are not hoping to get anything back. It’s a natural thing, altruism. Everybody has to have it, otherwise, what are you here for?

Somebody needs help, you help. You don’t think twice. If you are drowning and I can swim it’s my obligation to save you, not just take out my camera and video you while you struggle.

It is so wonderful to see them respond and gain confidence once they have people to help them with food and their studies. Our theme with these children at the moment is that I want them to see beyond what is there, to all the possibilities of what life can be. I am very thrilled by the synergy I have with my kiddies. I am very into technology, which helps us connect.

I believe Malaysia is the centre of some kind of special melting pot. Maybe not the leaders but the common people. That is why it is very hurtful when we are emotional about problems outside but our own stateless children are crippled.

I can’t bear to see people being bullied and denied the chance to fulfil their potential. I think it’s insulting when you don’t look after your own.

They are stateless because they don’t have the papers. We put in citizenship applications in July last year, and we will see how it goes. Before during previous governments not so much was done, so this is better, but there are still 134,000 cases pending.

I can’t understand the mentality when I hear a minister say we must achieve or improve KPI. We should be striving for 100 percent, because these are lives hanging in limbo through negligence. As a society, this is risk management.

Statelessness is not just in border areas. Urban statelessness is a big problem. Not just street orphans. If we link a marriage certificate to get citizenship for unwed fathers then we are creating a legitimacy issue. And this can lead to children who are abandoned.

I was not impressed when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Putrajaya has to incorporate the Conference of Rulers’ views on planned constitutional amendments that will affect citizenship.

I don’t know if the decision-makers know the situation on the ground. The bottom line is children are suffering. Don’t treat children like this. Many are in despair because of statelessness. We even have cases of attempting and committing suicide. We have to do something

My own three children are wonderful. They are working adults and understand. In my family, we don’t tell each other what to do.

It’s very natural. They said it’s mum’s choice, we support each other. Negative elements like anger are a waste of time. We all have problems but let’s do what we can.

I would like to see more being done so that this travesty of justice doesn't happen for future generations. For example, in rural areas, why can’t they send the National Registration Department officers once a month to settle this? Why can’t they work with hospitals? Why is the onus on a person who has poor literacy?

We can give comfort but can’t tell people how they should feel. We can guide them to having an avenue to cope better. I tell these children that they are loved. I see you. You are not alone. They literally don’t exist according to the system - how can you do that to a child?

I don’t like preaching but for all of us who are privileged, I think we have a duty to help those who aren’t. There is a long way to go, but we will never give up.