The allegation on foreigners being able to obtain citizenship overnight is baseless, says NRD

It is interesting to read the last line of a letter from the Malaysian National Registration Department (NRD) which says “An application for citizenship still has to be made based on the provisions of the Federal Constitution. Therefore, the allegation on foreigners being able to obtain citizenship overnight is baseless”. This appeared in the letter to the editor page of the Star 6 November 2013.

I wonder if the statement is true, why then hold a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah. Project IC as it is called has spawned so many theories of who and why it began. As long as no answer is forthcoming, the rumour mill will be on overdrive. This brings to attention as well the number of cases of fake identity cards circulating in the country. The robber with a fake IC shooting a bank officer is a case in point.

Getting a fake IC and obtaining a citizenship overnight can be considered different. Would those rejected after applying for their citizenship be tempted instead to get a fake IC since it is a much easier option. Even though there is at the moment an ongoing exercise to weed out those with fake ICs, the effort seems seasonal. It is given prominence daily now but how long will it last. So it might be worth the risk for those rejects to get a fake IC since as the NRD says, being able to obtain citizenship overnight is baseless.

The full text of the letter is below:

Citizenship not a right but an award by Government

WE refer to the letter “Please be fair” (The Star, Nov 7).

The National Registration Department (NRD) refers to the statement in the letter which stated that many locally-born Malaysians had yet to get their citizenship while foreigners had theirs almost overnight.

Every application for citizenship is processed in accordance to the rules and regulations as provided in Part 3 of the Federal Constitution.

The provisions for applying for citizenship consists of various categories and take into account the applicant’s eligibility.

Malaysia citizenship is not a right, it is the highest award given by the Government to a deserving applicant.

Even though a person has fulfilled all the criteria and eligibility in applying for citizenship, it is subject to the Government’s consideration and approval.

The Government has the prerogative whether to award citizenship or not to an applicant without having to give any reasons to the individuals concerned and the decision made cannot be disputed.

For the readers’ information, the assumption that every person born in Malaysia and holding a Malaysian birth certificate is automatically a Malaysian citizen is incorrect; a child’s citizenship status is determined by the parents’ marital status and their citizenship status at the time of birth.

By having a birth certificate is not an indication that the person is already a Malaysian citizen.

On those who claim to be born before Merdeka Day but cannot provide documentary evidence to support those claims; it is important to understand that those who are born in Malaysia before Merdeka are not guaranteed citizenship by operation of law (automatically). An application for citizenship still has to be made based on the provisions of the Federal Constitution. Therefore, the allegation on foreigners being able to obtain citizenship overnight is baseless.

JAINISAH MOHD NOOR

National Registration Department, Malaysia