A total of 11,770 foreigners applied for Malaysian citizenship in the last five years, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop said that from 2005 until September this year, 3,405 applications were received from Indonesians, Cambodians (1,115), Chinese (501), Indians (494), Filipinos (461) and Thais (392) among others.

The applicants had to meet the set criteria and undergo various stages of screening and only those eligible would be conferred citizenship, he said in reply to Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri (BN-Kuala Nerus).

The criteria included good behaviour, non-violation of the country's laws, working knowledge of the Malay language and loyalty to the nation, he said.

In certain cases, the applicants' expertise and contribution to the country and people would also be considered.

He said the ministry would also study whether the applicants had family ties or roots in the country before deciding on the applications.

It had also set a clients charter to complete the processing of applications within three years of receipt.

To another question, he said that anyone who married a Malaysian could apply for citizenship under Article 15 (1) of the Federal Constitution after residing in the country for two years.

- Bernama