JPN apologises over citizenship slip-up with Perlis mufti’s daughter

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — The National Registration Department (JPN) apologised today for denying Perlis Mufti Dr Juanda Jaya’s daughter of an identity card, and for stating that she was not a Malaysian citizen.

“JPN apologises for the inconveniences that Dr Juanda Jaya had to go through at the Kuching, Sarawak JPN counter following the inability of the staff to explain the department’s procedure.

“This department had never intended to deny the rights and citizenship of his daughter as a Malaysian citizen,” JPN Director-General Datuk Jariah Mohd Said said in a statement today.

It was reported that the Perlis Mufti and his daughter, Sumaiyah Syahidah, 12, had tried to apply for a MyKad on Friday but was told that his daughter was not a citizen.

He said he was also told by the officer at the counter that the application process did not adhere to the “standard operating procedure”.

Juanda was also asked to produce his marriage certificate.

He said six of his children who were born in Sarawak, are registered under JPN and that they all have birth certificates and passports with the citizenship status of the Melanau race.

Jariah explained in the statement today that effective on June 11, 2009, the application for children from marriages between a Malaysian man and a foreign wife, either the mother or father need to show a copy of the marriage certificate once for the first application to confirm the status before the identity card was issued.

“As the Home Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said earlier today, the issue came about because the officer at the counter did not refer to his superior regarding cases that are unique.

“However, Sumaiyah Syahidah’s identity card, Dr Juanda Jaya’s second child is ready for pick up at the Kuching JPN office on a working day,” she said.

Jariah also said that the JPN management has already identified the problem and is doing its best to improve so that every officer on duty at the counter can do their job professionally and are helpful with their customers.