KUALA LUMPUR: The special foreigner cards issued for refugees and stateless individuals in Sabah are designed to manage undocumented people, says Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
The Deputy Home Minister dismissed claims that these cards could be used to grant citizenship to foreigners.
"It allows the presence of this group to be identified and monitored more accurately and effectively," he said in response to a question from Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) during the Special Chamber session at Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 19).
Regarding the citizenship application process, Shamsul stated that it is stringent and governed by the Federal Constitution, particularly Part III, which outlines specific requirements and criteria for eligibility.
"The requirements are detailed under the Citizenship Rules 1964 and other related legislations, including those governing marriage registration, legitimacy of children, and immigration regulations.
"Every application is thoroughly scrutinised and will only be considered for approval if it meets all the prescribed criteria," he explained.
Shamsul added that the Sabah government is implementing a digital registration initiative for foreigners, including foreign workers, Filipino refugees, and the Palau group.
The digital registration aims to collect personal data and information of each foreign individual in the state.
As of Oct 16, he said a total of 80,540 individuals have been recorded under this programme.
"This initiative will facilitate the government in formulating more relevant policies and strategies for foreigners based on the actual status in Sabah," he said.
Former Sabah chief minister and Semporna MP Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal previously expressed concerns over the introduction of the special foreigner cards, fearing misuse as supporting documentation for citizenship applications.
He urged the Sabah government to establish strict security features when issuing the special foreigner cards to prevent exploitation for citizenship applications.
In 2022, the Sabah government announced plans to issue special foreigner cards for refugees and stateless people, broadly dubbed "inland foreigners".
The cards, renewable annually, allow foreigners to send their children to schools or hospitals, pay for services set for foreigners, open bank accounts, and avoid exploitation by employers.
