Latest news with #MohdIzazAbit
Daily Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Admit Project IC wrongdoing and move on
Published on: Sunday, July 13, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 13, 2025 Text Size: Why don't we all acknowledge the wrongs of the past, move forward, put politics aside, address these issues for the sake of our future generations? I refer to a recent report in Daily Express headlined 'Pakistanis obtaining ICs: NRD says action taken'. NRD had taken action on one Mohd Izaz Abit who was found to have used another person's birth certificate to obtain the identity card. NRD said 'The identity card was seized after a confession was obtained from the individual and the application sponsor'. What action, if any, was taken against the individual? May NRD please clarify? Was there any criminal action against the application sponsor? NRD had checked the IC numbers of the three individuals mentioned in the Daily Express report and found that they were Malaysian citizens by operation of law. 'Project IC' for unqualified foreigners during the eighties and nineties utilised:- (1). Sijil Akuan therein was stated the person was born in such and such kampong in Sabah verified by Ketua Kampong and District Officer, and (2). Birth certificate from late registration of birth, without endorsement by the Magistrate Court which is mandatory as provided in the Sabah Birth and Death Ordinance Cap. 123. Because they were 'born' in Sabah, they were considered citizens by operation of law, Article 14 of the Federal Constitution. One example of such foreigner who is a Project IC citizen is the current Sabah Indian Congress (MIC) Chief, who was also appointed a Director of Sawit Kinabalu Plantation, a Sabah Government Linked Company. Police report on this Project IC citizen had been lodged. In January 2022, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) wanted the documents on this MIC Chief probed, and the Chief Minister had promised to investigate it. But nothing has come out of it to date. It seems that there is no political will. Did NRD check if these three individuals mentioned above were Project IC citizens? Six of the twenty-four Sabah ex-NRD officers arrested under ISA in 1995-96 for their involvement in issuing Malaysian ICs to unqualified foreigners were witnesses in the proceedings of the RCI on Immigrants in Sabah in 2013. The six NRD witnesses, which included two ex-Directors, provided consistent account of their actions, corroborating one another. How many Project ICs were issued to unqualified foreigners? The Sabah RCI proceedings disclosed that around 120,000 old blue ICs with designated serial numbers were issued to them, mostly using the Sijil Akuan. And, the number of blue ICs issued from 1963 to 2012 using birth certificates from late registrations of their birth was also disclosed: 139,010 issued by virtue of being citizens by operation of law, and 7,810 issued to persons who had to apply for their citizenship. The current electoral roll does not have these three individuals registered in it. Automatic registration as voter was implemented few years ago and the absence of their names in the roll means something is wrong. During State or general election, to get elected, politicians use rhetoric on undocumented immigrants (PTI), statelessness, holders of IMM13, Burung Burung, Sijil Banci and other Papers. Why don't we all acknowledge the wrongs of the past, move forward, put politics aside, address these issues for the sake of our future generations? Dr Chong Eng Leong The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
The Star
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
JPN says action has been taken after claims of Pakistanis obtaining ICs resurface
PUTRAJAYA: The National Registration Department (JPN) has confirmed that the allegation involving Pakistani nationals obtaining blue identity cards in Sabah is an issue that has resurfaced after first going viral in 2019. In a statement Wednesday (June 25), the department said action had been taken against one Mohd Izaz Abit after he was found to have used another person's birth certificate to obtain the identity card. "The identity card was also seized after a confession was obtained from the individual and the application sponsor," said JPN. Allegations that several Pakistani nationals had obtained blue identity cards had gone viral, with posts stating, "The Sabah JPN office is always filled with Pakistanis applying for ICs," and featuring images of the identity cards in question. According to the department, a check was also conducted on the identity card numbers and it was found that the individuals concerned were Malaysian citizens by operation of law under Article 14 of the Federal Constitution. JPN said that Abd Rauf Hamzah was a Malaysian citizen by operation of law under Article 14(1)(b), while Mohd Abzah Ulamai Dar held citizenship under Article 14(1)(a). The department said that Said Bashar Shah Zadar was a citizen by operation of law under Article 14(1)(b), with confirmation that his father had been a Malaysian citizen since March 6, 1958. It added that each applicant was responsible for proving their eligibility when applying for Malaysian citizenship. "The consideration process is subject to the conditions under Part III of the Federal Constitution, the Citizenship Rules 1964 [L.N.82/1964], as well as relevant laws on matters such as marriage registration, adoption, legitimacy of children, and immigration regulations," it said. JPN said that although the conditions allowed for submission of a citizenship application, approval was not guaranteed, as Malaysia, as a sovereign nation, does not grant citizenship arbitrarily or confer any special privileges. - Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Pakistani nationals' accused of getting M'sian ICs are citizens by law, says JPN
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. (Bernama pic) 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.
Daily Express
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
NRD denies Pakistani IC claims, says three are Malaysian citizens
Published on: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 25, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Filepic by Bernama 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 (NRD). The department said it had received complaints that Sabah's NRD 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. NRD 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). Advertisement 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. NRD 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. - FMT * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
25-06-2025
- New Straits Times
NRD takes action over claims on illegitimate MyKad ownership
KOTA KINABALU: The National Registration Department (NRD) has taken necessary actions following viral claims of non-citizens obtaining Malaysian identity cards (MyKad) in Sabah. "In the case of Mohd Izaz Abit, legal action was initiated after investigations found that he had used another person's birth certificate to apply for a MyKad. "The identity card was subsequently confiscated following confessions from the individual and the person who facilitated the application," according to a statement. NRD was responding to allegations, including claims that their offices in Sabah are frequently crowded with foreigners applying for identity cards. Several images of MyKad, supposedly linked to these individuals, have also been widely circulated on social media. The department also said it had reviewed the authenticity of three MyKad numbers mentioned in the viral claims. "It is confirmed that the individuals concerned are legitimate Malaysian citizens under Article 14 of the Federal Constitution." The department explained that the process for granting Malaysian citizenship is stringent and guided by the Federal Constitution, the Citizenship Rules 1964 and other applicable laws, including those governing marriage registration, adoption, legitimacy of children, and immigration. "The responsibility of proving eligibility lies entirely with the applicant. "By meeting the requirements only qualifies the application to be submitted; it does not guarantee approval."
