The State of Being Stateless in Malaysia, Thailand and Australia

Abstract

Statelessness is becoming an issue that requires immediate attention at the individual, community and state levels. In Malaysia, a few categories of statelessness affect children’s access to education, the overall well-being of communities and healthcare developments, the rise of mental health issues, decline in the literacy rate of a nation and impact its economic developments. It also results into the recurring cycle of exclusion, reflects the professionalism of departmental staff in handling statelessness as well as the political directions of countries. This study looks at the challenges faced by the stateless groups in the context of Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. Past studies have been gathered based on literature search. Missing birth documentation can lead to citizenship ambiguities while unstable, incongruent policies reflect policymakers’ direction on refugee management. A few effective strategies have been observed that might be worth exploring among future scholars and practitioners.