Perlis Mufti upset with NRD

(The Star) – The Home Ministry will look into the case of Perlis Mufti Dr Juanda Jaya who said his Sarawak-born daughter faced many hurdles when applying for a MyKad.

In a statement yesterday, he said National Registration Department (NRD) officers in Kuching had informed him that, according to their records, his 12-year old daughter was not a Malaysian citizen.

“They did not tell me this when I applied for the MyKad last week,” said Dr Juanda, who is Melanau, adding that the officers had also asked him to show his marriage certificate.

Dr Juanda, whose wife is an Indonesian citizen, said his daughter has a Malaysian passport.

“My daughter came with us to Jakarta early this month to visit our relatives there using her Malaysian passport,” he said, adding the Melanau are clearly stated in the Federal Constitution as bumiputra.

Dr Juanda said the NRD’s records had shown that his daughter was clearly registered as a Melanau, yet she was not listed as a citizen.

“I don’t understand how the daughter of a Malaysian bumiputra is not a Malaysian citizen when there are foreigners who are being awarded citizenship by the Home Ministry,” he said.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said the ministry would look into the case.