KUCHING, 8 May — The National Registration Department in Sarawak received 1,403 citizenship applications involving children and individuals aged 21 and below from 2018 to 2023.
State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said of the total, 657 applications have been approved, while 746 applications are still being processed.
“From January to March this year, 50 applications were received. Of that number, three applications have already been decided upon, while 47 applications are still being processed,” she said.
Fatimah added that pending cases will be brought to the next meeting of the Special Committee on Citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.
She was responding to Lingga state assemblyman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor’s query on the number of citizenship cases in Sarawak involving individuals aged 21 and below, during the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Fatimah said that not all individuals born in the country can automatically acquire citizenship.
“In this case, the individual’s citizenship is determined based on the marital status of the parents, registered according to the country’s laws.
“Secondly, the citizenship status of the parents at the time of birth, and thirdly, the birth occurring before the registration of the parents’ marriage according to national legislation,” she said.
— Bernama
