KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) has proposed that individuals applying for Malaysian citizenship should be required to complete a certificate course, similar to the one mandated for newlyweds, before being granted citizenship.
He made this suggestion during the parliamentary debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024.
The amendment aims to tackle various enduring concerns related to Malaysian citizenship, including the provision for automatic citizenship for children born to Malaysian mothers living abroad.
The Arau MP argued that applicants must demonstrate proficiency in both the national language and the Rukun Negara prior to their citizenship application.
“I fully agree that we need stricter conditions regarding applicants’ proficiency in the Malay language. I’ve been informed that, during citizenship application interviews, there is pressure on the government to simplify the process.
“What they mean by ‘simplify’ is that the applicants want easy questions. We must ensure that those who apply are fluent in Malay. I once visited a country and met someone with a Malaysian passport. I asked him, ‘Are you Malaysian?’ He said yes. Then I asked him, ‘Where are you from?’ He replied, ‘I beg your pardon?’ He couldn’t understand me. I asked again, and still, he didn’t comprehend.
“This is because the requirement for Malay language proficiency has been made too easy. That’s why I support all the MPs, including Jelutong, in proposing stricter conditions. Even the Conference of Rulers has said that the process should be tightened.
“The use of the Malay language needs to be enforced more strictly. For example, before getting married, one must complete a marriage course and obtain a certificate. Likewise, if someone wishes to become a Malaysian citizen, they should have to prove fluency in Malay by obtaining a certificate,” Shahidan said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He further asserted that stricter enforcement of citizenship criteria would encourage applicants to develop a greater sense of loyalty to the country, rather than taking their citizenship for granted.
“There are cases where individuals have lived abroad for 18 years, and upon returning to Malaysia, they are no longer fluent in Malay. We must show the world that we are not as lenient as other countries when it comes to granting citizenship. Many nations are far stricter.
“The use of the Malay language should be more rigorously enforced, and those residing in Malaysia should not easily obtain citizenship. For Malaysians, it is crucial.
“Citizens must also understand their obligations. Otherwise, we will end up with two classes of citizens – those merely seeking to make a living and those fully integrated into the fabric of the nation,” Shahidan added.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has reportedly promised to clear a backlog of 14,000 citizenship applications by the end of the year. – October 17, 2024