SIX MONTHS TO PROCESS 33,000 CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS

KUALA TERENGGANU (Malaysia), Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Syed Hamid
Albar said Tuesday the backlog of 33,000 Malaysian citizenship and entry permit
applications will be resolved in six months.

He said a special task force comprising the National Registration Department
and Immigration Department had been set up in November to deal with the matter.

"There are many foreigners wanting to make Malaysia their place of domicile.
However, not all of them can be granted with the citizenship status or entry
permits as they need to fulfil certain criteria," he said.

Syed Hamid said it would be easier to consider the applications of those who
had business interests in the country or those with expertise or high
qualification because they would be able to contribute to the country.

Speaking to reporters after attending the award of citizenships to 20
individuals and entry permits to 79 others, here, Syed Hamid said, the backlog
of applications was high as they had to undergo various stages and processes.

-- BERNAMA