‘Pakistani nationals' accused of getting M'sian ICs are citizens by law, says JPN
PETALING JAYA : The people accused of being Pakistani nationals applying for Malaysian identity cards are all Malaysian citizens, with the exception of one, says the national registration department (JPN).
The department said it had received complaints that Sabah's JPN office was 'always filled with Pakistanis applying for ICs', an issue it said had resurfaced after first circulating online in 2019.
In a statement today, it said the accusations were accompanied by pictures of the identity cards in question, and that action had been taken against one Mohd Izaz Abit for applying for a card with a birth certificate that was not his own.
'Action has been taken, with the deputy public prosecutor having ordered legal action. The card was seized after confessions were obtained from the person and the application's sponsor,' it said.
JPN said the other three 'Pakistani nationals' in question were all citizens by operation of law under Article 14(1) of the Federal Constitution.
It said the holder of the identity card for Mohd Abzah Ulamai Dar was a citizen by operation of law under Article 14(1)(a) while two others – Abd Rauf Hamzah and Said Bashar Shah Zadar – were citizens under Article 14(1)(b).
Article 14(1)(a) grants citizenship by operation of law to every person born in Malaysia before Malaysia Day, while Article 14(1)(b) does so for everyone born on or after Malaysia Day whose parents are citizens.
JPN said while those who fulfil the conditions can provide proof of their eligibility and apply for citizenship, this does not guarantee approval of their applications.
'As a sovereign nation, Malaysia will not arbitrarily hand out citizenship or special privileges,' it said.
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