NIBONG TEBAL: The Home Ministry will focus on granting citizenship to children born out of wedlock, adopted children and illegitimate children this year.
Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the priority would be adopted children and illegitimate children, which received the highest number of applications.
He said this could be resolved using provisions in the law, namely the Federal Constitution.
"These three subjects submitted the highest number of applications, especially adopted children and illegitimate children.
"There are very few applications under the naturalisation process.
"So, when I looked at the profile of applications, I find that children born out of wedlock is high. I don't think the children should be punished for their parents' wrongdoings.
"It is even higher for adopted children and illegitimate children.
"As such, I have instructed the officers in the ministry to expedite the process (of application)," he told newsmen at a gathering with the Indian community in Sungai Bakap here today.
Saifuddin said he had only attended today's gathering for a short while but had received numerous applications for citizenship.
He assured the community that it would be even easier for him to assist them if the unity government's candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin is elected as the new assemblyman in the Sungai Bakap by-election on July 6.
As such, Saifuddin said he had set a KPI (Key Performance Index) of resolving 14,000 cases last year, which they achieved.
"And now, entering into June, the number has reached 15,000.
"We will maintain this momentum," he added, noting there were 40,000 applications pending decisions.