Process in citizenship applications cut from 73 to 14 days
PUTRAJAYA: A new security screening system for citizenship applications is now in place, which would cut down the length of the process from 73 days to 14, says the Home Minister.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the system, which allows police and the National Registration Department (NRD) to share security data on such applications, has been up and running for the past two months.
“With the system in place, the waiting period for this process has been shortened significantly. It also allows the department to be informed of the applicant’s security status faster and in a more systematic way,” Saifuddin said after launching the NRD’s 75th anniversary yesterday.
The minister, however, did not reveal the number of applications vetted by the system.
Security screening mainly covers criminal and adverse activity and overstaying.
Should an applicant’s name crop up in the system, the request will be rejected.
Asked whether this meant that an applicant’s wait for citizenship would be shorter, Saifuddin said there were other boxes to be ticked and considerations looked into.
“This (security screening) part of the process may be shorter, but there are many other criteria that an applicant needs to fulfil before the application can be considered,” he added.
On another issue, the minister said he has directed agencies under the Home Ministry to be prepared to take on an additional responsibility should the single border agency come under the ministry’s purview.
Saifuddin added that the Cabinet was expected to decide on this soon.
“The reason why I have asked that agencies be prepared to take on a new task is that border issues mostly involve security, and most of the country’s security agencies are under this ministry,” he said.
During the tabling of Budget 2024, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said a single border agency would be set up with an allocation of RM20mil for maintenance, remedial work and procurement of assets at the country’s entry points.
However, Anwar did not state to which ministry the agency would report to.
