KUCHING: Sarawak will lower the age limit for citizenship applications under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution from 21 to 18 years starting June this year, says Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The state Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister said this change was in line with the standard definition of child as those aged 18 and below.
Article 15A covers citizenship applications for children under special circumstances.
"By age 21, the person is an adult already and the citizenship application is no longer under Article 15A, but Article 19 through the naturalisation process," she told a press conference on Monday (Jan 19).
Fatimah said an increase in citizenship applications in Sarawak was not caused by the age factor but involved children born to non-citizen mothers and those adopted without proper documentation or registration.
"The majority of applications are in the category of children born outside legally registered marriages.
"It becomes a problem if the mother is a non-citizen from countries such as the Philippines, China, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
"Hence, we advise those marrying non-Malaysians to make sure the marriage is legally registered. If the marriage was registered overseas, make sure it is properly registered in Malaysia upon returning," she said.
Fatimah also said the Sarawak Special Committee on Citizenship Status had been set up to expedite applications under Article 15A.
"The committee facilitates the process and ensures that applications are complete in terms of documentation," she said.
