JOHOR BARU: Johor DAP believes that the citizenship briefing organised by the Stulang state assembly office is not against the law.

Johor DAP deputy chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali condemned irresponsible parties for making baseless accusations against the programme, which had only disrupted harmony.

He said the Johor DAP believed there were no issues related to the programme and the programme did not violate the laws, as it only aimed to provide information and guidance to citizens who faced citizenship issues.

"However, I am very saddened when some parties try to fish in troubled waters by dragging this issue into racial agendas.

"For instance, some comments on social media attempt to confuse this issue by linking it to efforts to abuse power to grant citizenship to foreigners.

"More outrageously, some try to portray it as an action to sell off the nation's sovereignty by taking over the duties of the National Registration Department or the Home Ministry.

"This situation should not arise because we are merely acting as a facilitating bridge for the people," he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, the citizenship briefing scheduled for June 30 had been postponed after sparking controversy and public criticism.

Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng said the briefing was intended to address issues of the absence of birth certificates due to parental negligence, among other reasons.

However, he said the organisation of the programme had caused misunderstandings after its poster was circulated.

The programme's poster went viral on social media yesterday, causing it to be criticised with netizens perceiving it as an event to grant foreign immigrants citizenship in the state.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Umar, who is also DAP central executive committee member, stressed that the organisation of the briefing programme was not something new.

He claimed that the issue of citizenship was something faced by all offices of representatives nationwide.

He added that there should not be an issue with the programme as its role was to facilitate and help the people who needed guidance on the matter.

"It does not in the slightest diminish our patriotism as Malaysians, especially since, in the end, the decision-making power still lies with the authorities.

"Issues and programmes like this are not a secret, nor are they something extraordinary.

"I have also dealt with similar issues when I was the assemblyman for Paloh. Even now, there are citizens who continue to seek my and other representatives' advice when facing the same issues," said Sheikh Umar.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/1061196/johor-dap-citizenship-briefing-not-against-law