By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 9: The Home Ministry is determined to resolve 946 citizenship applications involving children in Sarawak under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution by June this year.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail disclosed that so far, 177 citizenship applications have been approved including those from 40 Sarawakian children who received their citizenship approval letters today.
“This does not include the 146 applications which we have given the outcome to today. Their applications are either approved or rejected.
“Nevertheless, the special committee focusing on resolving citizenship issues in Sarawak which was reactivated in January this year has received 946 applications so far and my target is to get all of them processed by June this year,” he told a press conference after a ceremony to present citizenship approval letters held at a hotel here today.
He also acknowledged the importance of the special committee on Sarawak citizenship under the leadership of Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, especially in facilitating, easing and speeding up the citizenship application procedure.
Saifuddin emphasised that resolving citizenship issues is one of his ministry’s priorities and is in line with compassion and humanity values in the Malaysia Madani concept.
“In a little over 100 days in office, a total of 4,267 applications have been resolved and my target is to process 10,000 cases by the end of this year.
“On the national level, there are over 152,000 applications received and this does not include Sarawak. The applications come under various Articles including 15A, 15(2), 16, 17 and 30,” he added.
Deputy Minister of Women and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, Home Ministry deputy secretary general (Policy and Control) Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Noriah Ahmad and National Registration Department director Dato Ruslin Jusoh were among those present. — DayakDaily
