By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 8: A total of 660 stateless individuals below the age of 21 in Sarawak have received Malaysian citizenship out of 1,453 applications received by the National Registration Department (NRD) since 2018.
Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the remaining 793 applications are still being processed.
“For the period of January to March 2024 alone, a total of 50 applications have been received.
“Out of that sum, three have been approved while 47 more are still pending approval,” she said in response to Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor during question-and-answer (Q&A) time in Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
She further said the pending cases will be brought up to the Special Committee on Citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.
Fatimah further explained that among the factors that led to the stateless issue were improper marriages with foreign women and improper adoption.
To apply for citizenship, she emphasised that the applicant must be present before the Citizenship Registrar during application; aged less than 21 years old on the date of application; state the reason for the citizenship in the ‘F space’ and ‘Paragraph A’ of the application form or attach a separate document if the space is not adequate; fill the ‘B form’ and include copies of necessary documents; and have the parents, foster parents and guardian to submit the application form.
“The applicant must be present at Citizenship Division Counter at NRD office and bring together with them the necessary documents and copies,” she said. — DayakDaily
