By Adrian Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14: Stateless individuals have been given one year timeframe to apply for citizenship.
According to national daily, The Star, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said his ministry is giving stateless individuals a period of one year to register with proper documentations.
Hamzah said he will make the announcement on the mechanism soon and called on those who have not registered to do so as soon as possible.
“We have achieved independence in 1957 but I have someone who is 63 years old coming and telling me they still do not have citizenship.
“There is no logic in this, so I will give them one year for everyone with proper documentation and evidence to register so we can consider them as legal citizens,” he was quoted as saying during the wrap up of the Budget 2021 committee stage at Parliament today.
He believed the issue if prolonged would cause more problems in the future.
Therefore, Hamzah said the government wants to resolve the matter to ensure deserving people are recognised as a citizen of Malaysia.
Hamzah outlined that individuals facing the dilemma can approach their respective members of Parliament (MP) for assistance to apply for citizenship. — DayakDaily
