Dealing with a Government Agency.

This morning i took my son to the Registry Department to declare that he and his sister will be giving up their American citizenship in accordance with the Malaysian Government requirement that no Malaysian citizen can hold a dual citizenship. From the reaction of the lady attending to the matter it is clear that she has no idea of what to do as she had no idea that there was an announcement made in the Star Online news of such a move. She had to call her superior out from her room and this individual too had no idea of the ramification involved and simply declared that if my son and daughter had any problem with their citizenship status they to show their identification card and everything would be cool. No notes taken , no records registered of my son's visit to ascertain that he had taken the action towards dropping off one citizenship for another. She only told my son to go to the American Embassy and declare his intentions.

PETALING JAYA: Either renounce or risk revocation as there is no other way out for dual citizenship holders.

An official from the National Registration Department said those who failed to voluntarily renounce would have their citizenship revoked because Malaysia does not recognise dual citizenship as stipulated under Article 24 (1) of the Federal Constitution.

The official also revealed that annually about 5,000 people renounce their Malaysian citizenship.

“Dual citizenship holders need not pay any penalty for failing to renounce their Malaysian citizenship. It is an individual’s personal responsibility to renounce their Malaysian citizenship after obtaining citizenship in another country,” said a department official.

The official said this in response to queries sent via e-mail following public complaints over the possi­bility of being fined RM50,000 or jailed if they failed to fill up form K to renounce citizenship.

The official said Malaysians risk losing their citizenship if the authori­­ties are satisfied that foreign citizenship was obtained through registration, naturalisation or voluntarily through other formal arrangements other than by marriage.

“The Federal Government could then order the revocation of the person’s citizenship,” he said.

To another question, the official said it did not have a special data bank on Malaysians holding dual citizenship.

“Malaysian citizenship can only be terminated through renouncement or revocation,” it said.

The official also pointed out that under Article 23 (1) of the Federal Constitution, citizens above 21 years of age, and of sound mind, should formally renounce their citizenship when they are about to gain citizenship of another country

He said the department welcomed feedback from those with information on dua

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/01/31/renounce-or-risk-revocation-dual-citizenship-holders-told/#F08Rv3FGBrd1cmDO.99

To save the trouble of tracking dual citizenship holders in the future the lady in charge could have been more proactive by providing a form for such a move or even start a file for my children that will keep track of their actions taken towards making this happen. Unfortunately she brushed it off as of no concern attitude or a superior bureaucrat towards those that needed her services and advice. As the saying goes, there is no room for learning when you are an expert at what you do.