The Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, has defended the Immigration Department's staff who questioned an individual's proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia during the passport renewal process at UTC Johor. The minister explained that such inquiries were likely made due to suspicions about the individual's citizenship status, emphasizing the importance of mastering the national language as mandated by the constitution.
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail asserted that the requirement to understand Bahasa Malaysia is not unique to Malaysia and is present in several advanced countries worldwide, citing examples like Singapore and the UK. He stated, "If you cannot understand the local language, you are not eligible." The minister underscored that the constitution enshrines Bahasa Malaysia as the official language, while other languages can be learned and used freely.
During a press conference at the first-anniversary celebration and monthly gathering of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Saifuddin addressed concerns about potential complications arising from language proficiency requirements, stating that mastering Bahasa Malaysia is an obligation that cannot be compromised. He emphasized the need for individuals to understand the language to avoid raising suspicions, citing previous cases where document forgery was uncovered due to discrepancies in facial resemblances.
The minister provided an example of a situation where suspicions arose based on a child's facial features not matching those of the parents. Investigations revealed document forgery, highlighting the importance of language proficiency in citizenship-related matters.
The recent viral incident involved a woman renewing her passport at UTC Johor, claiming to have faced ridicule from an Immigration Office staff member due to her lack of proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia. Saifuddin's defense of the language requirement reflects the government's commitment to upholding constitutional mandates and addressing potential security concerns related to citizenship.
In a related call for scrutiny, Saifuddin urged the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to thoroughly examine the financial, annual, and operational reports of registered organizations, particularly non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The minister emphasized the importance of ensuring compliance with legal provisions to prevent organizations from engaging in activities beyond the scope of organizational laws.
In light of recent incidents where an NGO's accounts were frozen due to allegations of misappropriation of public donations intended for assisting the Palestinian people, Saifuddin stressed the need for regular examinations and monitoring by the RoS. The goal is to ensure that NGOs adhere to regulations, with the RoS taking firm action to revoke registrations if organizations fail to submit required reports.
"I will discuss with the Home Ministry Chief Secretary (Datuk Ruji Ubi) and the leadership of ROS to review the registration status, particularly of NGOs," stated Saifuddin, highlighting the government's commitment to transparency and accountability in the activities of registered organizations. It is pertinent to note here that the PM Anwar had recently urged Malaysians to be proficient in speaking English.
In response to former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's call for the release of RM10 million from frozen Aman Palestin bank accounts to help Palestinians, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki clarified that investigations into the NGO's accounts are ongoing, and funds cannot be released at this time.
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