JPN says action has been taken after claims of Pakistanis obtaining ICs resurface

PUTRAJAYA: The National Registration Department (JPN) has confirmed that the allegation involving Pakistani nationals obtaining blue identity cards in Sabah is an issue that has resurfaced after first going viral in 2019.

In a statement Wednesday (June 25), the department said action had been taken against one Mohd Izaz Abit after he was found to have used another person’s birth certificate to obtain the identity card.

“The identity card was also seized after a confession was obtained from the individual and the application sponsor,” said JPN.

Allegations that several Pakistani nationals had obtained blue identity cards had gone viral, with posts stating, “The Sabah JPN office is always filled with Pakistanis applying for ICs,” and featuring images of the identity cards in question.

According to the department, a check was also conducted on the identity card numbers and it was found that the individuals concerned were Malaysian citizens by operation of law under Article 14 of the Federal Constitution.

JPN said that Abd Rauf Hamzah was a Malaysian citizen by operation of law under Article 14(1)(b), while Mohd Abzah Ulamai Dar held citizenship under Article 14(1)(a).

The department said that Said Bashar Shah Zadar was a citizen by operation of law under Article 14(1)(b), with confirmation that his father had been a Malaysian citizen since March 6, 1958.

It added that each applicant was responsible for proving their eligibility when applying for Malaysian citizenship.

“The consideration process is subject to the conditions under Part III of the Federal Constitution, the Citizenship Rules 1964 [L.N.82/1964], as well as relevant laws on matters such as marriage registration, adoption, legitimacy of children, and immigration regulations,” it said.

JPN said that although the conditions allowed for submission of a citizenship application, approval was not guaranteed, as Malaysia, as a sovereign nation, does not grant citizenship arbitrarily or confer any special privileges. – Bernama