KUALA LUMPUR – The Home Ministry has developed a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for citizenship applications, which has been approved by the Cabinet, said Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
During his parliamentary winding-up speech over constitutional amendments related to citizenship matters, the Home Minister said that the SOP will detail matters such as application procedures and the documents that must be submitted by individuals seeking citizenship.
A total of 70 MPs participated in the debate, which lasted two days, starting yesterday.
“In March this year, during the second reading, I made several pledges. First, I committed to expediting decisions on citizenship applications, setting a target of 17,000 by December this year. As of yesterday, I have signed off on 19,317 applications, and when combined with decisions made last year, the total stands at 22,153.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to the honorable Sembrong (Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein). He initiated the gathering of verified application data, which enabled KDN to later devise a systematic strategy for managing the process—something previously hindered by the lack of readily available data.
“We are now developing SOPs, particularly for the most prevalent applications under Article 15A—those concerning illegitimate children, adopted children, and wards—and Article 19(1), which pertains to naturalisation applications. Today, I am pleased to announce that the SOPs for these processes have been completed and approved by the Ministerial Committee.
“These SOPs are crucial. They will address many of the questions raised by MPs, such as why an application was rejected without an explanation. Once these SOPs are fully implemented, they will provide answers to basic questions regarding citizenship applications, including, ‘Where do I begin?’ With the SOPs in place, applicants will be informed in advance about the required documents, ensuring clarity from the outset.
“If the necessary documents are incomplete, officials will notify the applicants that their submission is insufficient. However, if they choose to proceed regardless, they must accept the risk that their application might be rejected. By informing applicants earlier in the process, they will have more clarity, rather than waiting 7 to 8 years only to be told their application has been denied,” Saifuddin said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
In winding up the debate on the bill, Saifuddin gave assurance that the ministry will decide on all pending citizenship applications, either approving or rejecting them, within 12 months starting today.
He said this is to ensure there are no prolonged backlogs of citizenship applications.
“Today, on 17 October, KDN’s commitment is that from now until 17 October next year, we will resolve all these (pending) applications as a sign that we are opening a new chapter and accepting new applications,” he said.
The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024, which, among other things, grants citizenship rights to children born abroad to Malaysian mothers.
The bill was approved with more than a two-thirds majority, receiving support from 206 Members of Parliament (MPs) in a bloc vote during its second and third readings.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said one MP did not support the bill, 14 were absent, and one did not vote due to suspension.- October 17, 2024