The National Registration Department (NRD) yesterday stated that since 1998, only 37 Bangladeshis have been granted citizenship.

“Of this number, only 14 of them have registered as voters and are eligible to vote in the upcoming general election,” said NRD chief Jariah Mohd Said in a statement late yesterday evening.

According to Jariah, from the 37, 18 were granted in 2010, five in 2009, one in 2006, and two each in the years of 2008, 2003 and 1998.

She added that only four have been granted citizenship this year, up to the month of August.

Jariah said that five individuals were granted citizenship as they have Malaysian wives while four others have Malaysian parents.

Nine were granted citizenship after more than 12 years as a permanent resident, as provided for by Article 19 of the federal constitution.

Nineteen others were conferred citizenship under Section 15 A, which provides for special conditions for those aged under 21.

bangladesh prime minister office ngo affairs bureau 180911 front The statement came following reports that a Bangladeshi government agency had on its website carried a notice saying that Bangladeshi workers were “easily conferred Malaysian citizenship” if they vote for the BN.

This was, however, refuted by the Bangladeshi High Commission which said the claim is “baseless and ill-intentioned”.

The notice , which quoted anonymous “highly placed” sources, has since been removed from the NGO Affairs Bureau of the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office.

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