The Malaysian Insight

THE Home Ministry will make it more transparent the legal and paperwork requirements to grant citizenship to the children of single foreign parents, said Muhyiddin Yassin.

The minister said there should be no problem in granting citizenship to them as long as they meet all the legal and constitutional requirements.

“For us, we don’t have a problem with anyone who is eligible to be a Malaysian. But the process should be simplified.

“We have to look at all the existing SOPs and process, lay them out clearly and make sure there are no more long waits to obtain citizenship,” he told reporters after a meeting with ministry agencies in Kota Kinabalu today. 

Muhyiddin said this in response over the stateless persons issue arising from the Article 15 (a) that stipulates the definition of “anak tidak setaraf” that the child’s birthright will follow the mother’s birthright.  

He said he was aware of the matter being raised in parliament and that problem not just in Sabah, but also an issue in the peninsula.

Muhyiddin also admit that the National Registration Department has been ambiguous and usually does not explain to the applicant the reason behind the rejection.

However, he said this practice must stop.

He said if the problem is not dealt with now, Malaysia will see the stateless persons issue becoming more serious. 

Muhyiddin added the federal cabinet has agreed to restructure the state-federal committee on the management of illegal immigrants and expected to hold its first working meeting by May.

The committee is co-chaired by him and Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Muhyiddin said several papers will be presented, including one to deal with illegal immigrants working in the plantations.  

He added the National Registration Department will extend its network and appeal to a number of village chiefs to report the new births in their villages.

This, he said, is a part of the ministry’s effort to deal with stateless persons as a result of late or non-birth registration.

Today mark’s Muhyiddin’s first official visit to Sabah after the polls in May.

Earlier today, he paid a visit to the Mohd Shafie where both talked about security and prosperity of the state.  

He also indicated Sabah will be getting an increase of funds this year to build or upgrade district police stations and quarters. – April 6, 2019