MIRI, April 13 -- After over half a century of living in limbo, former Border Scouts Basar Arun and Joseph Pengiran have finally been granted Malaysian citizenship.

This long-awaited moment of justice and recognition arrived in the twilight of their lives, with Joseph receiving his long overdue identity card on April 7 at the Lawas National Registration Department (JPN Lawas) and Basar collecting his on March 14 this year.

Joseph's son, Daud, said his father was in disbelief when he finally held his IC for the first time after decades of waiting.

"I accompanied him to JPN Lawas on April 7. He was indeed in disbelief but was also excited at the same time, because he never imagined this day would come, especially now that he is 79 years ...