PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will ask the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate a National Registration Department staff who had allegedly solicited money from a citizenship applicant.
Saifuddin said the applicant had complained to him personally.
"The staff member had called the applicant to convey the good news that the citizenship application had been approved.
"However, he also supposedly asked for a large sum of money. We know this staff who is allegedly involved because a cross-check on the name given by the applicant was correct.
"I will give the name to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki after this press conference. The information will enable Azam to further probe into this matter," said Saifuddin at the ministry here today.
Present were Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi and Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.
Saifuddin, however, declined to reveal more information as he did not want speculations to arise.
He expressed regret over this act, which went against the corruption-free principles upheld by the Madani government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He did not discount the possibility of such practices happening for a long time.
He said the government has taken steps to ease the waiting time of citizenship approval, which can go up to 15 years.
He said the public does not need to fork out a single sen when they sought NRD documents, such as birth certificates and citizenship approval.
"It is more so to get an approval for a citizenship. All these do not involve any payment. We have a committee which will make considerations based on legality, rules, circular and merit. They will recommend whether it is approved.
"When we inform the applicant that it is approved, all they need to do is come and collect (the certification).
"If an officer calls to ask for payment, ignore it because this is not a practice of the Madani government.They should report to the authorities, especially the MACC, if it happens," he said.
