Over 56,000 Malaysians renounce citizenship past 10 years

- Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 56,576 Malaysians renounced their citizenship over the past decade with over 90 per cent of them from the Chinese community.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) said since 2006 up to April this year, 49,864 Malaysian Chinese gave up their citizenship.

He said 834 Malaysian Malays,  1,833 Indians and 4,044 others had also renounced their citizenship in the same period.

"Those who gave up their citizenship did so after obtaining citizenships from other countries," he told Parliament.

On a separate question by Kasthuriraani Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan), Ahmad Zahid said 43,453 foreigners were granted citizenship since 2006, the bulk from Indonesia, India and Thailand.