BN component partner Gerakan today commended the government's decision to approve citizenship for 92 ‘stateless Malaysians' yesterday, saying that the decision has "righted a wrong".

The party's head of central bureau on unity, Asharuddin Ahmad, said the 92 applicants had waited for many years to be "accepted as Malaysians".

"The decision is in line with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia concept. The PM has walked the talk that Malaysia is for all Malaysians," said Asharuddin in a statement.

Asharuddin also said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein deserved a pat on the back for personally looking into the backlog of applications for citizenship.

"Gerakan hopes that Hishammuddin and Home Ministry officers will also strenuously vet through the rest of applications soonest, notably the scores of foreign nationals whose spouses are Malaysians," he added.

"Gerakan is sympathetic with these people, many of whom have sacrificed and contributed towards the country's economic development and progress."

Asharuddin pointed out that many foreigners who are professionals and spouses of Malaysians had been forced to work elsewhere because they could not get Malaysian citizenship or permanent resident status.

He said applications should be approved for those who are not a threat to national security and have been loyal to the country, and not based on political expediency.

Yesterday, Hishammuddin witnessed the 92 people pledging their allegiance to the nation after being handed over of Malaysian citizenship at a ceremony at the National Registration Department in Putrajaya.

The first batch of people was part of a 32,927 backlog in citizenship applications, with some waiting for more than 20 years to become citizens.