Lee Tuck case proves ‘who you know’ matters, says MP

 

Selangau MP Baru Bian says only 253 applications for citizenship were approved out of 969 applications since 2016.

PETALING JAYA: Selangau MP Baru Bian says the Lee Tuck citizenship case gives credence to the belief that “it is who you know” that matters.

He said people born in Malaysia but without connections had been forced to wait for years to be granted citizenship.

“One cannot help comparing these cases of long frustrating waits with the case of this footballer who obviously has connections,” he said in a statement.

UK-born footballer Lee Tuck, 34, announced this week he had been naturalised as a Malaysian citizen. Formerly with Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu, he now plays for Sri Pahang FC.

Baru said a recent court ruling denying automatic citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian mothers was a huge blow to so many families.

He said only 253 applications for citizenship out of 969 since 2016 had been approved.

As citizenship matters come under the purview of the federal government, Baru said the Sarawak government was unable to approve the applications.

“It is no wonder that Sarawakians are increasingly calling for autonomy from the federal government on many matters. We’re truly losing confidence that they have any empathy for the plight of our people,” Baru said.

Tuck has been playing in the M-League since 2017. The league has three other naturalised players, Mohamadou Sumareh (from Gambia), Liridon Krasniqi (from Kosovo) and Guilherme de Paula (from Brazil) who once played for Harimau Malaya. - FMT