Senate president Rais Yatim lobbed a sarcastic salvo at Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin over his absence from the Dewan Negara.
He made the remark as Deputy Home Minister II Jonathan Yassin answered a question from Umno senator Aziz Ariffin today.
“I wish to make a comment,” said Rais (above) interrupting Jonathan.
“The minister (Hamzah) has never come to the Dewan. 'Sampaikan salam' (send my regards),” he added.
To which, Jonathan replied that he would pass the message to the minister, drawing laughter from the others present.
Aziz had asked the Home Ministry if the government interviewed or vetted foreigners who are accorded Malaysian citizenship as well the requirements which these individuals must fulfil.
In his response, Jonathan cited Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates two avenues – registration and naturalisation - in which citizenship is granted.
“In implementing the issue of citizenship in line with the Federal Constitution, the Home Ministry through the National Registration Department will implement several vetting processes.
“This includes an oral interview and a face-to-face test regarding the applicant's proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia under Articles 16 and 19 of the Federal Constitution,” he said.
Jonathan also stated that applicants would be subjected to a security vetting under the same articles.
Apart from this, he said there are also several mandatory requirements with regard to those whose spouses are Malaysians as well as for applications by parents or guardians for an individual below the age of 21.
In September this year, the government filed an appeal to quash a High Court declaration that overseas-born children of Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers are entitled to automatic citizenship.
On Sept 9, a judge at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur allowed the legal action by six Malaysian mothers and rights group Family Frontiers.
High Court judge Akhtar Tahir had ruled, among others, that Malaysian women (married to foreign men) have the same right, as Malaysian men married to foreign women, to confer citizenship by operation of law on their children born overseas.
Following the landmark court ruling, a few government ministers lauded the outcome, among them being Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun. - Mkini
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