Malaysian Renouncing Citizenship

Renouncing citizenship: Chinese top the list

Chinese Malaysians record the highest number of those who have renounced their citizenship, followed by the Malays and Indians, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

The Home Ministry's parliamentary secretary, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, said 14,316 Chinese (87%) have surrendered their citizenship, compared to 1,098 Malays (6.6%), 822 Indians (5%) and 238 (1.4%) others from 2000 to 2006.

He also explained that 106,000 people have renounced citizenship since Independence in 1957.

Abdul Rahman said these Malaysians had applied for citizenship to India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan, Canada and Indonesia.

"(Others) have applied to the UK and US, Taiwan, Thailand, Germany, New Zealand, France, Austria, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Brunei, Finland and Jordan," he said.

Living condition

As to why so many Malaysians have opted to leave for other countries, he replied: "The main reason is the (quality of life) in those countries."

"They also consider the working environment, such as better opportunities and better pay. And some consider education for their children as a reason to apply for a citizenship in a particular country," he said.

Abdul Rahman was replying Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) who asked for a breakdown of the figures according to race and the country of destination.

On a related matter, Abdul Rahman said the government takes into consideration three things before stripping a person of citizenship.

"Firstly, we see if the person holds citizenship in another country. Secondly, we see if the person has voted in that country's elections. And lastly, we (check) if the person holds a foreign passport," he said.

He explained that revoking citizenship can be implemented under Article 24(2) and 3(a) of the Federal Constitution.