30-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Saifuddin: Entry permits for foreign spouses evaluated fairly
KUALA LUMPUR: Entry permit approvals for foreign spouses of Malaysians are based on fair and balanced considerations, regardless of gender, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
"Among the prerequisites for the MyPR application is that the applicant must first obtain an entry permit issued by the Malaysian Immigration Department," he said in a written parliamentary reply last night.
He was responding to Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera), who questioned the government's processes for Permanent Resident (MyPR) applications, which she said placed an unfair burden on Malaysian women with foreign spouses.
Saifuddin also said the issuance of entry permits to foreigners is in accordance with the provisions under Section 10(1) and (2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which grants the Director-General of Immigration the authority to issue entry permits based on the conditions and procedures set.
Between 2013 to 2023, the approval rates for the wives of citizens stood at 22.3 per cent and the approval rates for husbands stood at 22.7 per cent.
"Based on the percentage of approved entry permits, there is no significant difference between applications made by husbands and wives within the citizen category.
"Therefore, each entry permit application in the husband and wife to citizen category is assessed fairly and equitably," he said.
He added that several factors are taken into consideration when granting approvals.
"For example, in the case of citizens' wives, issues related to welfare and neglect are considered," he said.
