PENANG Citizenship Unit serves solely as a mediator between applicants and the National Registration Department (JPN) and does not have the authority to grant citizenship, stated state executive councillor Lim Siew Khim.
Lim, who oversees the Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs portfolio, clarified that the state Citizenship Unit is neither new nor secretive, having been established in 2013.
She explained that the proposal for this unit was discussed in the state executive council meeting and passed by the Penang Legislative Assembly.
“Everything was done according to procedure, and there has never been any issue before,” she emphasised.
“The Penang Citizenship Unit provides guidelines to applicants under the Penang Citizenship Programme. We help them prepare the correct documentation and guide them step-by-step to meet all JPN requirements. Once they have done so, they can submit their application to JPN for consideration.
“However, the final decision rests with the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), which determines whether an individual will be granted Malaysian citizenship.
“We have no influence over the granting of Malaysian citizenship. The Penang Citizenship Unit operates independently of JPN.
“Therefore, the accusations circulating on social media are false, slanderous, and unfounded,” Lim asserted at a press conference in Komtar.
Penang Citizenship Unit officer Yeap Choon Keong, also present at the press conference, supervises the Penang Citizenship Programme.
Since 2013, the Penang Citizenship Programme has been crucial in assisting individuals facing delays in obtaining Malaysian citizenship, Lim added.
“Officers in this unit primarily assist eligible individuals without birth certificates and identification cards. They follow up on application statuses and collect data on stateless individuals in Penang.
“From 2018 until this year, we have successfully assisted 101 individuals in obtaining Malaysian citizenship.
“Our goal is to help stateless individuals, including children, regardless of race or religion. We address issues arising from parental negligence and other causes,” she said.
Lim also urged certain parties to cease politicising the issue, warning that failure to do so would result in a police report being lodged.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud