HOME Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail urged all parties not to politicise the citizenship-related briefing and information programme organised by any state assembly (DUN) service centre.
He voiced his disagreement with the criticism that the briefing sessions are an attempt to give citizens a wholesale.
He also said he received requests from MPs in the PAS-led state of Kelantan for the organisation of such briefings.
“Let’s not confuse this with accusing an organised movement to give the citizens wholesale. I received a message from a MP in Kelantan who received many complaints about citizenship problems.
“This is because the area is close to Thailand, there are many marriages with local people. So when representatives of the people organise programmes like this, it needs to be seen through clear glasses,” he added.
According to him, many state assembly service centres, whether represented by representatives of the government or the opposition, receive such requests.
The people are looking for information on citizenship applications, and they include those involving illegitimate children, adopted children, children born abroad or parents married abroad.
Saifuddin also urged that people’s representatives be given space to carry out their duties, while mentioning the issue of citizenship accepted in Kelantan.
Last week, UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh lambasted the DAP for its sneaky demeanour of organising a statelessness programme, which apparently has received widespread backlash with claims that it is an attempt to provide Malaysian citizenship to mainland China migrants.
The event scheduled to be held on June 30 in Johor has been postponed, according to Stulang state assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng whose service centre organised the programme in a Facebook posting on June 8. – June 15, 2024
