Zaharudin should apologise for 'baseless' MM2H claims – PKR Youth

Summary

• PKR Youth has urged PAS’ Zaharudin Muhammad to apologise for a post on citizenship and the MM2H programme, calling it misleading and constitutionally baseless.

• The bureau stresses that MM2H does not confer citizenship and accuses Zaharudin of promoting a false narrative that undermines national unity and misrepresents Malaysia’s laws.

Sungai Buloh PAS division chief Zaharudin Muhammad should publicly apologise for his recent social media posts, said the PKR Youth Legal and Public Complaints Bureau, because his claims about immigration and naturalisation have no basis in the Federal Constitution.

“His explanation is not only misleading and prejudiced but also reflects a serious misunderstanding of the Federal Constitution, particularly in relation to Malaysia’s citizenship laws,” said the bureau’s chief, Khairul Naim Rafidi.

He pointed out that the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is merely a long-term visa programme.

The programme does not confer citizenship or permanent residency, including for their children born in Malaysia. Instead, participants remain citizens of their home country.

Khairul emphasised that the Federal Constitution lays out strict requirements for granting citizenship.

Articles 14 and 15 stipulate requirements regarding the status of the parents, length of residency, and special approval from the government.

Article 19 provides that naturalisation may only be granted after more than 10 years of residency, demonstrated proficiency in the national language, and a formal oath of allegiance to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Article 43(7) stipulates that no person who acquires citizenship by naturalisation is eligible to be appointed as prime minister.

“Hence, the narrative pushed by Zaharuddin (above) is not only false but undermines the integrity of the Constitution - the very foundation of our national unity,” he said in a statement today.

Hypothetical scenario

On Wednesday, Zaharudin penned a hypothetical scenario set in 2058 where a Chinese individual from Kampung Sungai Baru - now a Malay enclave - is appointed as Malaysia’s 50th prime minister.

The article states that the prime minister’s parents had acquired citizenship through the MM2H programme after buying a condominium there 23 years ago.

Zaharudin doubled down on his claims in a separate Facebook post yesterday, claiming that his original post was meant to raise awareness about MM2H.

According to him, foreigners would buy properties and reside in Malaysia, and when there is a birth, they may apply for citizenship and eventually demand the right to vote.

“If foreigners enter (Malaysia) in a planned manner, as did the Zionists in Palestine, then it is not impossible that in 2058, the prime minister will be the children of such foreigners,” he said.

Don’t blame others

Khairul urged Zaharudin, who has threatened lawsuits against his critics, to refrain from blaming others for his own remarks.

“As a politician, Zaharudin should understand that correcting one’s mistake is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it reflects noble character and moral courage.

“We therefore urge him to apologise openly for the statement that has caused public unease and to refrain from blaming others for ‘misinterpreting’ his words.

“In Islam, seeking forgiveness is a mark of maturity and sincerity, not weakness,” he said.

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