KUCHING: The application for the Special Committee on Citizenship established under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution and its Special Task Force will have to be resubmitted when the new federal Cabinet is instated, says Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Sarawak Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Family and Childhood Development Minister said that the special committee was supposed to have a meeting on Monday (Aug 23).
“However, the meeting had to be postponed following the change of the federal government. We are still waiting for the new Cabinet to be installed so that we can submit the application once again.
“The special committee aims to facilitate the application process for the documentation of stateless children in Sarawak. The federal Home Affairs Ministry has the authority to accept the application or otherwise.”
Fatimah said this during a press conference after a meeting with the Sarawak National Registration Department and National Population and Family Development Board Sarawak here on Monday.
At the same time, Fatimah advised and urged Sarawakians who intend to marry foreigners to go through the proper process and follow the laws of the country, particularly in Sarawak.
She pointed out that this would prevent the issue of stateless children and also protect the children’s rights.
The special committee was revived in April to facilitate citizenship applications in Sarawak, with the first meeting held on April 20.
