THE Sarawak government has received a total of 594 applications for the Individual Temporary Document without Citizenship (DSITKS) documents as of May 2.
Minister of Welfare, Early Childhood, Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the Premier has presented the DSITKS certificates to 44 recipients as of March 16.
“The validity period of the DSITKS is for two years from the date of approval of the application.
“This document is specifically to facilitate the holder’s access to education and health in Sarawak, and it is not a Malaysian citizenship document,” she said.
She was replying to Joseph Chieng (GPS-Bukit Assek) who wanted to know on the number of DSITKS holders and the validity period of documents during question time today.
Fatimah also said the DSITKS document gives the right or promises to grant Malaysian citizenship to the holder.
“However, an extension application can be made if the holder has not yet acquired citizenship. And the DSITKS must be returned to the ministry as soon as the holder obtains citizenship and an identity card,” she said.
Replying to Datuk Talib Zulpilip (GPS-Jepak) on the actions taken for Malaysian citizenship applicants under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution who have yet to receive the approval letter, Fatimah said Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Jan 17 this year had agreed to reactivate the Special Committee on Citizenship Status (JKKSK) under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution at the Sarawak level.
“Since 2016, the JKKSK has received a total of 1,252 citizenship applications under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution and during the JKKSK meeting which took place on March 9 in Kuching, a total of 146 applications out of the 946 outstanding applications were presented with citizenship approval letters.
“Meanwhile, the remaining applications will be presented in the next meeting which is expected in June 2023,” she said.
As a result of the courtesy visit to National Registration Department of Malaysia director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh, Fatimah said a notification letter dated February 9, 2023 has been issued whereby official receipts for citizenship applications under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution can be used by the Sarawak State Education Department and the State Health Department Sarawak as verification of the child’s identity to enter school and get health services in Sarawak.
“In addition, the Sarawak government has also issued the DSITKS to children aged under 21 and those who were born in Sarawak, and have not obtained citizenship and have applied for citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution to be used as a special identity to gain access to education and health services provided by the government,” she added.
