Although Mismah, the much talked about voter, had claimed that she obtained her Malaysian citizenship through legal channels, PAS Youth has questioned the rationale behind the issuance of her permanent residency (PR) and citizenship which allegedly went against the nation's immigration policy.
In a statement issued yesterday, Johor PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat (left) pointed out that Mismah - whose real name is Nismah Naim and who originated from Bawean island, Indonesia - was not eligible to obtain PR status or citizenship under Malaysia's immigration rules.
According to the National Registration Department (NRD), she was granted permanent residency on July 17, 1982 and citizenship on Jan 31, 2011, after 29 years as a permanent resident.
In an interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian, Mismah, 47, claimed that she first entered Malaysia in 1982 as a construction worker. Her husband Mawasi Mawardi, 51, has also obtained PR status.
“This means Mismah obtained PR status in less than one year after she resided in this country Mismah's case contradicts the statement made by Immigration Department director-general Alias Ahmad,” said Suhaizan.
According to a news report published by Utusan Malaysia on Sept 23, Alias, responding to allegation that Bangladeshis were give citizenship to vote for BN, said that only foreigners who married Malaysians and their children under six years old who have resided in Malaysia for at least five consecutive years are qualified to apply for PR, according to the Immigration Act 1963.
Alias explained that the Immigration Department disallows foreigners with temporary working permits from applying for PR.
“Applications are also opened for investors, experts and professional who are recognised by regulatory agencies,” he added.
PAS Youth also found that the Immigration Department stipulatesthat only foreigners with entry permit who have resided in Malaysia for at least five years can apply for PR. Those who are qualified to obtain entry permits are:
Therefore, Suhaizan pointed out that the issuance of PR to Mismah had violated at least four criteria - she is not a professional; her husband is neither a citizen nor a professional; and she had resided in Malaysia for less than one year.
“PAS Youth has requested Alias to answer the issue of Mismah to the people of Malaysia.”
The youth wing also urged NRD director-general Jariah Mohd Said to explain why Mismah was given PR followed by citizenship although she had only resided in Malaysia for less than one year.
“Mismah is just an example. PAS Youth is worried the issuance of citizenship to thousands of foreigners in this country. The issuance of citizenship to those unqualified for the sake of political interests is a betrayal to the nation,” stressed Suhaizan.
According to NRD, the Home Ministry had approved citizenships for 29,290 people between April 9, 2009 and July 15, 2011 as part of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's key performance index (KPI).
This is out of more than 72,334 pending applications for citizenships.
“219,000 applications were resolved, including 72,334 citizenship applications, 31,449 applications for permanent residency, 108,906 applications following late registrations of birth and 6,311 applications under the MyDaftar programmes,” said Jariah in an earlier statement.
The controversy surrounding Mismah was raised when she was found to be listed as a PR on the NRD website, but as a voter on the Election Commission website.
The NRD had within hours of Malaysiakini's checks changed her status to 'citizen', later clarifying that Mismah had been a permanent resident for 29 years before being granted citizenship but the NRD database accessible to public was not updated.
In a statement issued yesterday, Johor PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat (left) pointed out that Mismah - whose real name is Nismah Naim and who originated from Bawean island, Indonesia - was not eligible to obtain PR status or citizenship under Malaysia's immigration rules.According to the National Registration Department (NRD), she was granted permanent residency on July 17, 1982 and citizenship on Jan 31, 2011, after 29 years as a permanent resident.
In an interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian, Mismah, 47, claimed that she first entered Malaysia in 1982 as a construction worker. Her husband Mawasi Mawardi, 51, has also obtained PR status.
“This means Mismah obtained PR status in less than one year after she resided in this country Mismah's case contradicts the statement made by Immigration Department director-general Alias Ahmad,” said Suhaizan.
According to a news report published by Utusan Malaysia on Sept 23, Alias, responding to allegation that Bangladeshis were give citizenship to vote for BN, said that only foreigners who married Malaysians and their children under six years old who have resided in Malaysia for at least five consecutive years are qualified to apply for PR, according to the Immigration Act 1963.
Alias explained that the Immigration Department disallows foreigners with temporary working permits from applying for PR. “Applications are also opened for investors, experts and professional who are recognised by regulatory agencies,” he added.
PAS Youth also found that the Immigration Department stipulatesthat only foreigners with entry permit who have resided in Malaysia for at least five years can apply for PR. Those who are qualified to obtain entry permits are:
- Professionals
- Children of professionals under six years old
- Spouses to professionals
- Individuals who obtain approval from the Home Ministry due to national economic importance
- Children of citizens under six years old
- Special cases
Therefore, Suhaizan pointed out that the issuance of PR to Mismah had violated at least four criteria - she is not a professional; her husband is neither a citizen nor a professional; and she had resided in Malaysia for less than one year.
“PAS Youth has requested Alias to answer the issue of Mismah to the people of Malaysia.”
The youth wing also urged NRD director-general Jariah Mohd Said to explain why Mismah was given PR followed by citizenship although she had only resided in Malaysia for less than one year.
“Mismah is just an example. PAS Youth is worried the issuance of citizenship to thousands of foreigners in this country. The issuance of citizenship to those unqualified for the sake of political interests is a betrayal to the nation,” stressed Suhaizan.According to NRD, the Home Ministry had approved citizenships for 29,290 people between April 9, 2009 and July 15, 2011 as part of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's key performance index (KPI).
This is out of more than 72,334 pending applications for citizenships.
“219,000 applications were resolved, including 72,334 citizenship applications, 31,449 applications for permanent residency, 108,906 applications following late registrations of birth and 6,311 applications under the MyDaftar programmes,” said Jariah in an earlier statement.
The controversy surrounding Mismah was raised when she was found to be listed as a PR on the NRD website, but as a voter on the Election Commission website.
The NRD had within hours of Malaysiakini's checks changed her status to 'citizen', later clarifying that Mismah had been a permanent resident for 29 years before being granted citizenship but the NRD database accessible to public was not updated.
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