Monday February 1, 2010
Citizenship denied with reason
By IVAN LOH

IPOH: The Home Ministry has denied allegations that it rejects applications for citizenship without stating reasons.

Datuk Lau Yeng Peng, who is the special officer to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, said: “On the contrary, the ministry does state the reasons for rejecting the application by informing the applicants which requirement under the Constitution, in particular, has not been met.”

Speaking to reporters after attending a dialogue session with the public at the Perak Gerakan headquarters here yesterday, he said it could be that applicants were unfamiliar with the Constitution, adding that he would bring up the matter with ministry officials.

“I would forward the suggestion that perhaps a simple explanation could be provided in the rejection letter,” he said.

Lau was asked about the general unhappiness amongst those whose applications, they claimed, had been rejected without reason.He said those who had their application rejected should continue appealing.There were no shortcuts to getting one’s citizenship, he said, adding: “There is no time limit stipulated under the Federal Constitution for one to appeal.” “So, they can just file their appeal anytime after being rejected.”

Lau also urged applicants not to go through agents or middlemen to get their application processed, noting:“Bear in mind that we have never appointed any agent to process applications for citizenship. Go straight to the National Registration Department or the Home Ministry.”Lau said the ministry was currently focused on speeding up the applications of the elderly and children.

The interview process for the elderly, he noted, had been simplified to only test their fluency in Bahasa Malaysia.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/1/nation/5587379&sec=nation