Home minister: 5,243 out of 13,012 citizenship applications from Sarawak approved

From front row, 8th left: Saifuddin, Fatimah and Rosey in a group photo with others during the press conference at Pullman Hotel, Kuching on Aug 17, 2024.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Aug 17: The Special Task Force (PPK) between the Home Ministry and the Sarawak government to assist stateless individuals in obtaining identification documents has approved 5,243 out of 13,012 applications so far.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he had informed the matter to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during a courtesy call on the latter yesterday (Aug 16).

“We have issued identity documents to over 5,000 applicants, and the remaining applications are still being processed,” he said during a press conference after chairing a meeting for the Special Committee on Citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution held at Pullman Hotel here today.

Saifuddin also mentioned that he and Abang Johari agreed to extend the task force’s operation, which was supposed to end in its one-year term on Aug 23, 2024.

The extension, he said, was necessary to allow the task force to complete the collection of citizenship applications from remote areas in Sarawak and carry out the evaluation process.

At the same time, Saifuddin revealed that the Special Committee on Citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution, which is tasked to filter and review citizenship applications for stateless children, deliberated on 306 applications during the meeting today.

“Out of those 306 applications, we have agreed to approve 225 of them. For the remaining 81 applications, we have recommended them to be rejected,” he stated.

Sarawak Minister of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah explained that among the reasons for the rejected applications was due to the use of false, incomplete or unlawful documents.

However, the applicants could still reapply for citizenship with assistance from KPWK in terms of the verification process.

Upon getting approval for citizenship, she also reminded that applicants still need to apply for the ‘K’ native status.

Also present was Sarawak Deputy Minister of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Rosey Yunus. — DayakDaily