Jeffrey proposes commission for Sabah, S’wak to determine citizenship SOP

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 17): The federal government has been asked to set up a citizenship commission or committee for Sabah and Sarawak.

In making the proposal, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said this is necessary so that Sabah and Sarawak are given a role in determining the citizenship of the people from the two regions.

“(Through the commission) the terms of reference or SOP (standard operating procedure) for granting citizenship to the people of Sabah and Sarawak can be established,” he said when debating amendments to the Constitution Amendment Bill 2024 in Parliament yesterday.

The Keningau MP emphasised that the SOP should address issues such as the inconsistent issuance of MyKad, citing how some siblings are granted the identity card while others are denied.

According to him, a special parliamentary select committee could be created to monitor the implementation of the citizenship committee or commission.

He further proposed that the determination of citizenship for the people in East Malaysia should be processed through Sabah and Sarawak government agencies.

“The determination of citizenship will then be communicated to the National Registration Department (JPN), which will issue the IC or MyKad,” he explained, referring to various pending applications.

According to him, the mechanism is appropriate because every citizen or resident of Sabah is a Malaysian, as agreed upon during the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.

“The granting of Malaysian citizenship to the people of Sabah and Sarawak must follow what was agreed upon, regardless of race and religion, not as if it is biased towards one particular race,” he stated.

On the citizenship woes plaguing the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak, Jeffrey pointed out residents living far in the interior cannot comply with JPN’s documentation requirements.

“They cannot provide proof of birth, evidence of long-term residence, marriage certificates that are recognised, and therefore do not obtain citizenship or MyKad,” he said.

He explained that these residents are only issued a Red IC or permanent resident status, and with the Bill amendments, their children and grandchildren will lose their citizenship rights through legislation and will need to apply for registration.