Is NRD shifting blame onto stateless siblings for application issues?

Question

Accepted Answer

National Registration Department Accused of Shifting Blame for Citizenship Application Issues

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has accused the National Registration Department (NRD) of complicating the citizenship application process for four stateless siblings and attempting to shift blame onto the applicants themselves. LFL director Zaid Malek stated that the NRD made baseless objections and engaged in harassment, rather than addressing the core issues hindering the siblings' applications.
Allegations of Obstruction and Harassment

LFL contends that from the outset, the NRD attempted to prevent the siblings' lawyer from assisting them in filling out forms and interacting with officers. While legal assistance was eventually permitted after repeated requests, LFL questioned the necessity of such initial obstruction. Zaid Malek further alleged that NRD officers, including director-general Zamri Misman, continuously harassed the siblings by accusing them of creating difficulties through legal representation and suggesting they failed to obtain adequate advice from the department.
NRD's Counter-Explanation and LFL's Rebuttal

The NRD, in a statement, claimed that the four stateless siblings submitted their applications without the required supporting documents and that crucial details in the submitted copies were illegible. However, LFL refuted this explanation, asserting that a certified true copy of the parents' marriage certificate had been submitted. LFL maintained that as legitimate children, the siblings should inherit their father's citizenship under the Federal Constitution, citing Article 14(1)(b) and paragraph 1(a) of Part II of the Second Schedule.
Impact of Statelessness on the Siblings

The lack of citizenship has had severe consequences for the four siblings, preventing them from accessing essential services and opportunities. The two elder siblings, Aziq Fadyan, aged 24, and Azreen Batrisyia, aged 22, have been unable to obtain their SPM certificates. Their younger sisters, aged 12 and eight, are currently unable to attend school. This stateless status also restricts their ability to open bank accounts, obtain driving licenses, and secure employment with fair wages.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Is NRD shifting blame onto stateless siblings for application issues?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends