Azis: Govt bound by law on matters of citizenship

Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHIMY RAHIM, TARRENCE TAN and FATIMAH ZAINAL

THE government has no intention of making it easier for foreigners to get citizenship or birth certificates, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman.

He added all such applications were bound by laws stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

“The issue of making applications easier was limited by what is allowed under the Constitution.

“We cannot simply make it easier. If the applicants are not qualified, they won’t get it, ” he told M. Karupaiya (PH-Padang Serai) who asked whether the Ministry planned on new rules to ease applications for citizenship and birth certificates. Mohd Azis said citizenship was the highest award that can be given to anyone and it was the exclusive right of the Federal Government.

“Any consideration for citizenships will be in line with Part III of the Federal Constitution, Citizenship Rules 1964 and all other related clauses that covers marriage registration issues, immigration regulations and others, ” he added.

On another matter, Mohd Azis dismissed talk that tourists from China and Hong Kong were given citizenship.