A clear timeline for implementing reforms in the citizenship law is essential following the proposed constitutional amendment, according to a government backbencher.
During the debate on the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 17), Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng highlighted the urgent need to tackle potential bureaucratic inefficiencies.
While he commended the amendment to lower the age requirement for citizenship applications from 21 to 18, Wee expressed concerns about whether the proposed one-year processing timeframe would be adequate.
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During the debate on the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 17), Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng highlighted the urgent need to tackle potential bureaucratic inefficiencies.
While he commended the amendment to lower the age requirement for citizenship applications from 21 to 18, Wee expressed concerns about whether the proposed one-year processing timeframe would be adequate.
Read more at https://shorturl.at/1vDZP
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
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NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you, Madam Chairperson, for giving me the opportunity to discuss this very important amendment
00:09to the 2024 Amendment to the Constitution.
00:14Basically, I support this amendment because it is a progressive step that is highly anticipated by all parties,
00:23especially those who are affected by the problems of the citizens.
00:29Therefore, the big question that needs to be answered is how far this amendment can be implemented effectively
00:38without the inevitability of bureaucracy that often delays the process.
00:43Are we sure that the problem of delay will cause applicants to have to wait for years to be able to complete it?
00:52I also fully support the reduction of the age requirement for citizens aged 21 to 18
01:01and improving the SOP under Section 15A and Section 19A.
01:07However, how can we ensure that the one-year period promised is sufficient to complete the application?
01:18What steps have been taken to ensure that this promise is not just a promise?
01:26Madam Chairperson, another issue that arises is, for example,
01:31if a wife with a status of a divorced spouse is in the process of applying for an entry permit or PR
01:38and she loses her husband while the process of applying for an entry permit is still going on,
01:44what kind of protection is provided by the government in this situation?
01:49Without proper documentation, a woman has the potential to face various difficulties in life,
01:56including getting a job to support her family after her husband's death.
02:02In order to avoid a woman facing a risk of being sent to a foreign country if her application is rejected,
02:10I have a number of important cases in the Yom Pihai Parliamentary Region
02:14and among them, this case has been going on for 20 years and it is still not resolved to this day.
02:21I ask the Minister to assist in resolving this issue.
02:26Madam Chairperson, before this transition,
02:29children of spouses who hold entry permits still have the opportunity to obtain citizenship
02:37if one of their parents is a citizen of Malaysia.
02:42However, after this transition, automatic access to citizenship will be affected.
02:48For children of spouses who hold PR, the question is, what is the fate of these children?
02:54Will they be able to obtain an entry permit automatically
02:59or will they be able to apply for citizenship without having to go through the entry permit process?
03:06How many of them will be affected as a result of this transition?
03:10This matter needs to be explained in detail by the government
03:15because it involves their future, especially in obtaining access to education at school.
03:21Madam Chairperson,
03:24if a husband holds an entry permit and marries a wife of a foreign citizen,
03:30what will happen to the status of the wife and children?
03:35What is their status in the law?
03:38The uncertainty of the status of this family causes great concern
03:44and the government must immediately explain how they will be treated.
03:49In this matter, are the views of bodies such as Suhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia Suhakam
03:57and Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas, DHRA Malaysia, fully taken into account?
04:05I hope that the Minister can provide a more in-depth explanation on this matter
04:11because it involves the future of many affected families.
04:15Once again, I want to emphasize that this transition is very important
04:19to ensure that the next generation, especially those who are marginalized due to the issue of citizenship,
04:27is no longer marginalized.
04:29What actions we take today will have a great impact on their future.
04:36Madam Chairperson, I support the 2024 Legislation. Thank you.
04:44As of yesterday, I still sign this document.
04:48I have made a decision of Rp19,317,000.
04:57Combined with the decision I made last year, the total amount is Rp32,153,000.
05:10I would like to inform all of you that if I take a cut-off of applications for more than 5 years,
05:185, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and above,
05:25from Rp32,153,000,
05:29actually, applications for more than 5 years represent 80% of applications.
05:36To start this process, I have to appreciate my colleague, Mr. Semberung.
05:44When he was the Minister of Home Affairs, he started collecting application data in a legitimate way
05:55to enable the KDN to organize strategies to manage it systematically.
06:06Before that, there was no data that was collected easily.
06:11And when there is a data that is started by Semberung,
06:14I have to record it in this court,
06:17it facilitates future work.
06:20Therefore, let it be recorded in the handset.
06:24My appreciation to my colleague from Semberung, Mr. Selud.
06:28Thank you very much.
06:30Moreover, thank you because he flew far from London to be here today.
06:35Thank you very much.
06:38I also mentioned that to ensure that the process is smooth, neat, and objective,
06:49we will develop the SOP,
06:53especially for the highest requirements, namely 15A,
06:59non-parent, foster children, caretakers,
07:03and 19A, naturalization.
07:07So today, I want to say that the SOP for both phases is also ready to be provided
07:16and has been approved by the Ministry.
07:19So the SOP is already there.
07:21This is important because I do not start with a vacuum.
07:25I inherited the same staff as before,
07:29it did not change at all.
07:31During my time as a minister, the same team that I inherited,
07:40and I just need to continue.
07:43The SOP is not developed in a vacuum.
07:47No.
07:48This will answer a lot of questions raised by Mr. Ahmad,
07:52that is, if the request is rejected,
07:55why not tell the reason for the rejection?
07:58After this, when the SOP is built,
08:01the SOP will answer the most basic question
08:04to ask citizens,
08:06where shall I begin?
08:09With permission.
08:10So with the SOP, they will know.
08:12Before they face the request,
08:14they will be guided by an SOP,
08:17what documents need to be completed.
08:20Without completing the documents,
08:22at the beginning of the request,
08:24the staff will inform them that the request is not complete.
08:28But if they want to face it,
08:30the risk of the request may end with rejection.
08:33So by telling earlier,
08:36the request will be clearer.
08:39Before this, if they waited for 7 or 8 years,
08:42just to be informed in the 8th year,
08:44the request was rejected.
08:47So this is one of the things I mentioned in the court
08:50at the march that we will hold.
08:53The second thing is,
08:56the new commitment that I gave today,
09:00after hearing all the arguments of Mr. Ahmad,
09:03is regarding the remaining cases that have not been decided.
09:08Today is 17 October.
09:10The commitment to DN is,
09:1217 October from now,
09:14which is next year,
09:16we will complete all these requests
09:19as a sign that we will open a new book,
09:22and receive a new request.
09:24That is the effort that I set,
09:27that all the requests that have not been decided,
09:31today is 17 October,
09:33by 17 October next year,
09:35we will make a decision on all the cases.
09:38And this parliament,
09:40I will be responsible to the members of the parliament,
09:43that what I missed,
09:45I must show the record.
09:47Show that we want to do the right thing.
09:50As mentioned by my colleague from Larut,
09:53included in the manifesto of the National Union,
09:56also included in the manifesto here,
09:59there is a meeting point between us,
10:01which is in the matter of citizens,
10:03we want to do the right thing.
10:05Give the right to the rightful.
10:07Without compromising the aspect of the law,
10:10we want to address the issue of humanity and fundamental rights.
10:14So this is the responsibility that we want to implement.