Fatimah: Committee has helped 118 ‘stateless’ S’wakians get citizenship

KUCHING: The Home Affairs Ministry has approved 118 citizenship applications under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution, based on recommendations by the state’s Special Committee on Citizenship Status.

Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who heads the committee, said the number was from a total of 682 applications received since the committee’s formation in October 2016.

“Up to March this year, the committee has received a total of 682 applications and so far, 118 applicants have been granted citizenship status under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution,” Fatimah told reporters yesterday.

She had earlier led a ceremony to present citizenship to 23 applicants at Wisma Wanita, Petra Jaya here.

However, only 10 applicants were present as the others live outside Kuching.

The minister disclosed that the breakdown of applications received by the committee was 67 in 2016, 174 in 2017, 318 last year and 123 applications from January till March this year, adding the committee only handles applications for those below the age of 21.

She also pointed out that rejected applications can be appealed through the committee, which was set up to address citizenship issues affecting communities in Sarawak.

According to Fatimah, the applications involve cases of births before marriage, births out of wedlock, adoptions and through court orders.

She also said that Home Affairs Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had praised the committee for having done a good job to help obtain citizenship for deserving applicants, and had said the committee ought to continue functioning.