Fate of Low family facing deportation revealed

A Malaysian cancer survivor and her family has been facing imminent deportation for four years, now they have learned their fate.

Malaysian family Des and Jacqui Low and their children Daphne and Joab faced deportation. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

A Malaysian family facing imminent deportation for more than four years has been granted permanent residency following ministerial intervention.

Cancer survivor Har Mei “Jacqui” Chew, Wai Cheong “Des” Low and their adult children Daphne and Joab had lived with the threat of deportation since 2019 after their application for visas was denied.

The family, who now live in Corio, came to Australia under the skilled migration program in 2015 and applied for a 187 visa in 2017 to live and work in Australia permanently.

But a month after the application was lodged, Ms Chew was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The family’s bid for permanent residency was rejected in 2019 because Ms Chew did not meet the requirements of the “one fails, all fail” visa health criteria.

The Geelong Advertiser reported extensively on the family’s plight, with former mayor Keith Fagg calling for “urgent intervention” from the Immigration Minister.

Des and Jacqui Low and their children Daphne and Joab have been granted permanent residency.

In 2022, despite the family’s challenging living situation, Joab was named the VCE dux of North Geelong Secondary College after achieving an ATAR score of 93.95.

Speaking to the Geelong Advertiser this week, Mr Low said the family was granted permanent residency by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles in mid February.

“We feel very relieved. It’s been four years which have been very stressful, mentally stressful,” Mr Low said.

He said the family now lived with certainty.

“Especially for my children, they can see forward. Last year my daughter graduated and applied for medicine but was considered an international student,” he said.

“Now they have more opportunities.”

The family’s lawyer, Raviro Nzenza from RN Legal Services, thanked Mr Giles for “delivering a favourable decision”.

Originally published as Fate of Low family facing deportation revealed