7.5  The Citizenship


The issue of citizenship is also crucial for an independent and sovereign country like Malaysia. Thus, it becomes one of the main provisions of the Federal Constitution. The aspect citizenship is stated in Article 14 to 22, Part 3. For Malaysian students (citizens), do you aware the way you obtain the citizenship of Malaysia? For foreign students, do you aware that you also can be a citizen of the country? You can but you have to fulfill the conditions of being citizenship.

Do you know how the citizenship is awarded? There are four ways in which the citizenship is awarded. It is through:
  1. Enforcement of law
  2. Registration
  3. Migration or application
Enforcement of Law

Through this way, the citizenship is awarded to the following categories of people:
  1. Those who were born before Malaysia Day (16 September 1963) including their children even if their children were born abroad
  2. Those who were born in Malaysia or abroad after Malaysia Day with conditions that the parents are citizens or permanent resident of the country at the time of his/her birth
  3. Those who were born in Malaysia including in airspace or on waters of Malaysia with condition that his/her birth is registered in Malaysia

7.5  The Citizenship


Through Registration

By this way, a person can apply to be a Malaysian citizen if he/she is:
  1. A wife or child of a citizen, but with condition that:
    1. Residing in Malaysia for two years before the application is made and has intention to continue residing in Malaysia
    2. Good conduct
  1. An individual aged less than 21 years, with the following conditions:
    1. If one of the parents is a citizen
    2. He/she is born before October 1962
  1. An individual aged 18 years or above, was born in Malaysia before the Independence Day provided:
    1. He/she can prove his/her residence in Malaysia for five years out of seven years before application
    2. Has intention to be a permanent resident of Malaysia
    3. Possesses simple understanding of Malay language
    4. Good conduct
  1. An individual aged 18 years or above, residing in Sabah & Sarawak on Malaysia Day with the following conditions:
    1. Residing in Malaysia before Malaysia day
    2. After Malaysia Day, residing in Malaysia for seven years before he/she makes application

7.5  The Citizenship


Migration or application

This way is applied onto foreign citizens in which those who aged 21 years and above can apply to be a citizen of Malaysia. The following conditions must be fulfilled:
  1. Has been residing in Malaysia for ten to twelve years before making application
  2. Has intention to be a permanent resident of the Federation
  3. Good conduct
  4. Has understanding of Malay language
Territorial Merger

If in the future, Singapore or Brunei will become a new territory of Malaysia, can the citizenship of Malaysia is granted to the people? Yes, the citizenship can be granted. It is stated in Article 23 that states if a new territory enters Malaysia, the Parliament has the power to decide on granting citizenship to the people of Singapore and Brunei.
For your information, the granting of citizenship through this way was implemented previously based on historical factors, as follows:
  1. Citizens of Singapore
  2. Citizens of the United kingdom and other colonies
  3. Permanent residents in Sabah and Sarawak

7.5  The Citizenship


As the citizenship can be granted to an individual, he/she is also will lose the citizenship. Do you know how a citizen will lose his/her citizenship? There are two ways. First, he himself rejects the citizenship. It is called losing citizenship by renunciation. Second, he has violated the laws and committed any of the following prohibited actions:
  1. He has become a citizen of another country
  2. He is enjoying all the rights and facilities in another country just like a citizen of the country. For example, he can vote in the foreign country's elections or possesses a foreign passport
  3. A woman becomes a citizen of a foreign country through marriage with a man from the country concerned
  4. Acts negatively showing he is no longer loyal to Malaysia
  5. Has business or ties with a hostile country
  6. He is imprisoned for more than 12 months or fined more than RM 5,000 within a period of five years after becoming a citizen of the country