SUPP Public Complaints Bureau Chief, Wilfred Yap was recently approached by a father currently residing at Stampin Resettlement Scheme who requested for assistance and a letter of support from SUPP on his application for Malaysian citizenship for his two (2) children aged 14 and 15 who are both not citizens of Malaysia even though they were both born in Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.
The man’s problem arose as he had earlier married an Indonesian women abroad in Indonesia but had failed to register the foreign marriage with the Registrar of Marriages in Malaysia before the birth of his two (2) children. The man informed that this was due to his misunderstanding of the procedure and requirements that a foreign marriage must be registered in Malaysia before it is legally valid.
The predicament that the man is facing is quite common and SUPP Public Complaints Bureau have received numerous requests for assistance on this kind of problem. In this case SUPP Public Complaints Bureau will try to assist the man in his application for Malaysian citizenship for his two (2) children under Article 15A Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
SUPP Public Complaints Bureau would like to inform the public that it is a requirement under Section 31 of the Law Reform (Marriage & Divorce) Act 1976 that where any person who is a Malaysian Citizen has contracted a marriage abroad to a foreign wife, such person must within 6 months after the date of such marriage apply to register the marriage with National Registration Department (Marriages & Divorce Section).
The foreign marriage would not be recognized in Malaysia if Section 31 of the Law Reform (Marriage & Divorce) Act 1976 is not complied with and would result in a child of the couple being born without Malaysian Citizenship.
To prevent problem like the above from occuring, SUPP Public Complaints Bureau would like to advice the public that it is very important for couples (where the wife is a foreigner) who have married abroad to make sure that they comply with Section 31 to ensure that their children are born as a citizen of Malaysia. Prevention is better than cure.
SUPP Public Complaints Bureau would like to notify the public that there are many individuals who might be facing similar problems but does not know how to deal with it. SUPP Public Complaints Bureau is always ready to give advice and lend a helping hand provided it is a genuine case. Anyone requiring assistance can always call SUPP Public Complaint’s mobile number at 016-7797688 or 082-246999 or go direct to SUPP Head Office to request for assistance.
(Photo shows SUPP PCB Chief Wilfred Yap together with TR Michael Mada of Kpg Lubok Buan, Stampin and the man residing at Stampin Resettlement Scheme explaining his predicament to Wilfred Yap)
