KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 21 -- Perak-born Velmurugan, 38, has lived in Malaysia his whole life as a stateless person and just wants to be recognised as a Malaysian.

Being stateless has caused him much emotional and mental distress, and he has faced difficulties such as finding a permanent job, opening bank accounts and applying for a driver's license.

Why is Velmurugan still stateless today? One big reason is illiteracy or the lack of education of those who lived in estates.

Velmurugan's grandmother was born in Perak but her citizenship status in official records is undetermined.

Velmurugan's mother Balamah was said to be born in Kuala on December 31, 1952... pre-Merdeka.

Velmurugan was born in February 1987 at the Ladang Escot Ulu Bernam ...