ID :
207956
Mon, 09/19/2011 - 08:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207956
The shortlink copeid
M'SIAN DPM DENIES BANGLADESHI WORKERS GIVEN FASTRACK CITIZENSHIP
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin
Yassin Sunday denied claims that Bangladeshi workers in the country were being
given citizenship so that they could become voters.
He said the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front - BN) government did not
need to do this to ensure victory in the next general election.
"We can ask the Bangladeshi authorities if indeed such claims were made but
we do not give fastrack citizenship to Bangladesh workers. Any foreigner who
wants Malaysian citizenship must fulfill various conditions, among them how long
the person has lived in the country.
"We do not give special treatment to Bangladeshis. More so when it is linked
to elections. It is as though we are so desperate to win that we are asking
foreigners to become citizens and ask them to vote. Furthermore, in the voting
process, a voter drops his ballot in the box and no one knows who the person
voted for," he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party's
annual convention at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
He was responding to reports that the NGO Affairs website of the Bangladesh
Prime Minister's Office had carried an article quoting sources who claimed that
Bangladesh workers in Malaysia were being given fastrack citizenhsip on the
condition that they must vote for the ruling coalition in the next election.
He added that he would be asking the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka to
follow up on the matter.
On another matter, Muhyiddin advised Malaysians planning to travel to
conflict zones to first check with the authorities of the countries concerned
whether it would be safe to do so.
This was to avoid a recurrence of tragedies like what happened in Sungai
Golok (Golok River) in southern Thailand on Friday where four Malaysians,
including a three-year-old boy, were killed while 60 others were injured after
three time bombs went off within minutes of each other in the border town.
"I extend my condolences to the bereaved families. I hope our embassy in
Bangkok will do the needful to assist the families of the victims," he said.
The injured included 16 Malaysians.
Yassin Sunday denied claims that Bangladeshi workers in the country were being
given citizenship so that they could become voters.
He said the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front - BN) government did not
need to do this to ensure victory in the next general election.
"We can ask the Bangladeshi authorities if indeed such claims were made but
we do not give fastrack citizenship to Bangladesh workers. Any foreigner who
wants Malaysian citizenship must fulfill various conditions, among them how long
the person has lived in the country.
"We do not give special treatment to Bangladeshis. More so when it is linked
to elections. It is as though we are so desperate to win that we are asking
foreigners to become citizens and ask them to vote. Furthermore, in the voting
process, a voter drops his ballot in the box and no one knows who the person
voted for," he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party's
annual convention at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
He was responding to reports that the NGO Affairs website of the Bangladesh
Prime Minister's Office had carried an article quoting sources who claimed that
Bangladesh workers in Malaysia were being given fastrack citizenhsip on the
condition that they must vote for the ruling coalition in the next election.
He added that he would be asking the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka to
follow up on the matter.
On another matter, Muhyiddin advised Malaysians planning to travel to
conflict zones to first check with the authorities of the countries concerned
whether it would be safe to do so.
This was to avoid a recurrence of tragedies like what happened in Sungai
Golok (Golok River) in southern Thailand on Friday where four Malaysians,
including a three-year-old boy, were killed while 60 others were injured after
three time bombs went off within minutes of each other in the border town.
"I extend my condolences to the bereaved families. I hope our embassy in
Bangkok will do the needful to assist the families of the victims," he said.
The injured included 16 Malaysians.
