SANDAKAN: The government’s naturalisation process is thorough, data-driven and strictly follows constitutional procedures, officials said, amid a FIFA probe into the citizenship status of several naturalised footballers representing Malaysia.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic) said while FIFA’s action against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) concerns player eligibility, the Home Ministry’s role is focused on verifying and granting Malaysian citizenship – including applications from foreign-born individuals – in accordance with the law.
“Naturalisation means a person’s application is based on their lineage – whether it is their father, mother, grandfather, grandmother or even ancestors – who have a historical connection to Malaysia,” he said when met during the launch of the Budi 95 programme on Friday.
He said the process, governed by Article 19(1) of the Federal Constitution, involves multiple layers of checks before any decision is made on an applicant’s citizenship status.
“The ministry’s secretary-general chairs the committee that reviews these applications, and all documents submitted must be thoroughly checked and comply with legal requirements,” he said.
“One of the key conditions is presence – an applicant cannot simply live abroad and apply without ever residing in Malaysia. We interview applicants, request their documents, take biometric data, and conduct extensive verification,” he added.
“The whole process is extremely meticulous. It is better for us to take a longer time rather than rush through it. There is a process and a verification procedure that must be followed,” he said.
Saifuddin said the ministry follows proper legal procedures once an application is submitted.
“The actions taken by FIFA are their own, and are a matter between FIFA and FAM. The Home Ministry’s responsibility is only in matters of citizenship,” he said.
He added that the ministry’s decisions are based on constitutional provisions, and applications supported by complete documents proving ancestry – such as family roots in Melaka, Penang, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu – will be verified and processed accordingly.
On Friday, FIFA sanctioned the FAM and seven naturalised players for allegedly using falsified documents to obtain Malaysian citizenship and represent the national team.
The global governing body fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8mil), suspended the players for 12 months, and referred their eligibility to the FIFA Football Tribunal for further review.
The controversy erupted after Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in June’s Asian Cup qualifier, leading to questions about the players’ documentation and ancestry claims.
FAM have since said they will appeal the decision, maintaining that all naturalisation processes followed proper procedures.
