Dr Ting (front second left) with some of the applicants. Lim is at front second right.
MIRI: Limbang resident Lim Fang Yin has been trying to apply for Malaysian citizenship for 45 years.
The 61-year-old, who was born in Brunei, has held permanent residency in Malaysia for the last five decades.
“I hope I can get citizenship soon as I have applied for over 45 years without a concrete reply, but was told to wait,” he said.
He pointed out that he is unable to travel abroad freely, including to Brunei, because he does not have citizenship.
Lim’s application was among the 30 highlighted by Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon to the National Registration Department (JPN) yesterday.
He said many of the applicants were senior citizens, who have tried to apply for birth certificates and citizenship over the last 30 to 40 years.
“The purpose here for today’s visit is actually a lot of people are supposed to be citizens but they are not Malaysian due to no documentation such as identity cards and so on,” Dr Ting told reporters at UTC Miri.
He also reminded the public not to go through agents when applying for JPN documents such as birth certificates and identity cards.
“Using agents or brokers will result in other problems arising and the public must be more aware that JPN staff are there to give assistance and to help them apply for their documentation,” said Dr Ting.