[Photo: Datuk Michael Chong with the five abandoned children. (From left) Richard Charlie, Ratna Devi, Krishnaraj, Anandaraj and Harish at the press conference yesterday.]

By : Ili Liyana Mokhtar

KUALA LUMPUR: Ratna Devi is eager to start school and enter primary one. But she is 10. She said she loved to read and learn new things.

"I want to go to school and meet new friends."

But Ratna, her brother Harish, 9, and two other boys, brothers Anandaraj, 10, and Krishnaraj, 8, are having difficulty registering into schools as they have no birth certificates.

For the past few months, the children have been getting reading lessons at the Taman Megah Handicapped and Disabled Children's Home, in Petaling Jaya. The situation is worse for Anandaraj who suffers from a heart condition and has Down's syndrome.

Both sets of siblings were left at the home by their fathers when they were babies without birth certificates or any other form of identification.

Umah Kumar, who runs the home, said she wished the children's fathers had told her where they were born so she could at least trace the birth certificates.

"I am at a loss as to how to help these children. Without the documents they are as good as stateless. Their future is bleak," she said at a press conference at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department.

"It would also be difficult for them to get treatment at government clinics or hospitals if they fall ill."

Department head Datuk Michael Chong said he hoped the parents or relatives of the children would come forward with information regarding their children's documents.

The department is also trying to trace the whereabouts of 2-year-old Richard Charlie's parents, who abandoned him six months ago in the care of a babysitter.

His case was highlighted in a newspaper last year.

Those with information are urged to contact the department at 03-21618044.