Malaysia resolves over 300 Sarawak citizenship cases; hundreds await clearance

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — The Home Ministry has cleared 306 citizenship applications from Sarawak residents filed under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution, marking substantial progress on a backlog affecting hundreds of applicants. A deputy minister announced the update on Friday, noting that 416 cases from the total pool of 722 submissions remain under consideration. The resolution of the first batch represents a significant step in addressing long-pending citizenship matters in the East Malaysian state. Article 15A provides a constitutional pathway for citizenship acquisition under prescribed conditions. The processing of these cases underscores ongoing efforts by the Home Ministry to tackle administrative delays in citizenship procedures, an area that has drawn attention from various advocacy groups and lawmakers. Officials did not disclose specific criteria behind the approvals or provide a completion date for the outstanding applications. Sarawak has experienced particular challenges with citizenship processing owing to its distinct constitutional arrangements and population demographics. The clearance of over 300 cases signals the ministry's commitment to reducing the citizenship application backlog nationwide, though the pace of resolution suggests extended timelines for remaining petitioners.