KUALA LUMPUR: The government should establish a specific timeline for each stage of the citizenship application process, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said
The Alliance of Safety Community chairman said this in response to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's announcement yesterday that citizenship applicants would be able to learn their application statuses within a year.
He said while the amendments to the Federal Constitution on citizenship had yet to be approved in Parliament, the standard operation procedures had already been developed.
Lee said establishing a timeline would further expedite the process and reduce the emotional toll on applicants.
"Establishing a clear timeline for each procedure could serve as a guide to ensure the speedy processing of applications.
"Many deserving applicants have experienced not just frustration, but in some cases, real hardship due to the prolonged waiting period," Lee said.
He added that the move was a positive step towards addressing the long-standing frustration of applicants, many of whom have endured years of uncertainty.
"I have been approached by many citizenship applicants who have waited as long as 10 to 15 years for a response.
'This announcement is a welcome change and offers hope to those who have been caught in the bureaucratic process for far too long," he said.
Lee said that the new SOP would hopefully ease the burden on citizenship applicants and improve the overall efficiency of the process.
Saifuddin yesterday had said that citizenship applicants would be able to learn their application statuses within a year due to the clearer SOPs in place.
He had also said that 80 per cent of citizenship cases involve Article 15A and 19(1) of the Constitution, which covers foundlings and naturalisation.
"The ministry is 'bound' to issue a decision on the application within a year."
Saifuddin said the ministry went through the amendments to the Federal Constitution on citizenship matters with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to ensure that every aspect was considered.