Putrajaya to speed up applications for citizenship with new system

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is looking to speed up the application process for citizenship with a new system that will allow other agencies to access candidates’ criminal records.

Deputy Home Minister Mohd Azis Jamman told the Dewan Rakyat that the process was currently delayed as the police handled each application manually.

“There is no specific system under the home ministry to determine if the applicants have a criminal record.

“Once this system is introduced, the police will enter all data needed by agencies such as the National Registration Department (NRD) if it involves an individual’s criminal records.

“The NRD can access this system once it has been introduced,” he said in reply to Wong Tien Fatt (PH-Sandakan), who had asked if there was a standard operating procedure for citizenship applications.

Wong said applications had been left unprocessed for up to 30 years without a response from the ministry.

Azis said he had been tasked with chairing a committee to look into the issue and to study ways of sharing information within the ministry.

The Sepanggar MP also noted that each applicant was processed on an individual basis. He said some applications were incomplete while other candidates thought the approval letters alone were enough to confer citizenship and did not turn up for the oath-taking ceremony.

Ismail Abdul Muttalib (BN-Maran) asked how many illegal immigrants had been granted permanent resident (PR) status which was later converted to legal citizenship.

Azis said from 2008 to Sept 30 this year, the NRD had recorded 57,191 individuals who were granted citizenship.

He added that only those who had entered the country legally could obtain PR status.

Source: FMT