Malaysian minister rejects claims Chinese nationals ‘freely’ given citizenship

Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has dismissed allegations that citizenship was arbitrarily granted to Chinese nationals, calling the claims “malicious slander” and fake news intended to incite public sentiment.He said the accusations were irresponsible and should not be weaponised for political purposes, especially at a time when the government is focused on helping the people navigate the global supply crisis.He said he had repeatedly clarified the matter in Parliament and during media engagements, with supporting data and facts, yet defamatory posters containing elements of race, religion and royalty had resurfaced and gone viral again despite his earlier denials last March.“The process of approving citizenship applications is not carried out arbitrarily, let alone to fulfil the political agenda of certain parties,” he said in a social media statement on Wednesday.Saifuddin stressed that all citizenship applications are subject to the federal constitution, existing laws and strict security screenings.He also dismissed allegations that he had “freely granted citizenship to Chinese citizens”, saying the accusations were deliberately spread to confuse the public and inflame tensions.He urged the public not to be easily influenced by false narratives and to verify information through legitimate sources.“Spreading slander and false news is not only irresponsible, but can also threaten national harmony and security,” he said.Saifuddin also called on those responsible for spreading the allegations to immediately stop what he described as unethical actions and instead support the government’s efforts to address current challenges, including the global supply crisis affecting the people and the country.He added that this was not the time to create unrest, exploit sensitive sentiments or burden the people with baseless propaganda, especially as many are facing rising living costs and global economic uncertainty.“All parties should act responsibly in disseminating information and prioritise stability, unity and the well-being of the nation,” he said.Further ReadingThis story was first published by The Star