Sarawak NRD awaiting federal directive on citizenship process

KUCHING: The National Registration Department office in Kuching is still awaiting a written directive from its headquarters in Putrajaya before it can change red IC or My PR card held by permanent residents to blue IC or MyKad (citizenship) for applicants aged above 60 years old.

Registration assistant at NRD Kuching office Rosalina Zaini said the normal process remains, whereby applications will only be processed for IC holders who are residing in Malaysia for 12 years and fulfil all conditions including passing a basic Bahasa Malaysia test.

“So far, we have yet to receive any ‘black and white’ directive from our headquarters.

“And so, the citizenship application process is still as usual such as accepting applications from permanent residents who have resided in Malaysia for 12 years, while woman permanent resident married to a Malaysian can apply after two years,” she said when contacted yesterday.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday announced that permanent residents above the age of 60 who applied for citizenship and fulfilled all conditions, would soon be granted full Malaysian citizenship.

According to media reports, the decision was made after a meeting with the Indian community representatives, Pakatan Harapan lawmakers and senators.

“The red IC is a permanent residency card.

“If they are already 60 and above, they can go to the National Registration Department and fill in the necessary forms to change their red IC to blue,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.

The prime minister however did not provide a timeframe as to when the citizenships would be approved.

He nonetheless mentioned that this was one of the 100- day pledges to be fulfilled by the PH government when taking over power, and the decision shall be applied to all races in the country.