PUTRAJAYA: All citizenship applications for children born to Malaysian mothers abroad have been processed as of March 7, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Of the more than 3,000 applications, Saifuddin said about 80% were approved, describing it as a "super majority."
"For the completed applications that we have processed, they will receive a notification from the ministry.
"Then, they can take further steps needed to obtain their citizenship documents," the Home Minister told a press conference here on Tuesday (March 19).
Saifuddin Nasution also stressed that those applying for citizenship had to ensure that their applications were complete.
"The documents must be valid," he said, adding that if the application involves children born to Malaysian mothers abroad, the children themselves also have to be present.
Of the number of applications processed, he said this includes children born to Malaysian mothers in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, the United Kingdom and more.
Saifuddin Nasution said once the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution on citizenship are enforced, children born to Malaysian mothers abroad will be allowed to obtain citizenship.
Earlier, he presented citizenship certificates to 35 children born to Malaysian mothers abroad.
