Table 1: Breakdown of research activities according to month Phase Activity Month Local ethics approval 1 1 Desk review 1 2 Interviews 2-5 Transcription of interviews 5-7 Data analysis 7-8 Final report preparation 8-9 3 1.6 Overall methodology for data collection This research is based on both primary and secondary sources of data and is split into two methods: 1. 2. A desk review of media publications, government data and responses, academic journals, international NGO reports, as well as other relevant documents on international human rights and legal provisions. In-depth, semi-structured interviews that involved 89 members of eight stateless populations (defined below), civil society organisation (CSO) workers, and representatives of relevant government agencies. In consultation with SUHAKAM, we identified eight categories of stateless populations as the target participants. The categories are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Persons with long-standing residence since pre-independence and their descendants Abandoned children born in Malaysia Adopted children in Malaysia Children born out of wedlock or before a marriage was registered Children born outside of Malaysia to a Malaysian mother and a non-Malaysian father Indigenous persons Stateless refugees Undocumented persons who do not fit any of the previous categories 11