A GROUP of 22 Muslim-Malay organisations today challenged the citizenships granted to 1.75 million non-Malays between 1957 and 1970.. 

The organisations, in a newly formed movement called Barisan Bertindak Melayu Islam (Bertindak), said they would be challenging in court the legality of the citizenships awarded during the period because the recipients had not followed the procedure for citizenship stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

“According to Article 17 of the constitution on general terms relating to citizenship, a person must take an oath before a citizenship can be awarded, as stated in Schedule 1 of the constitution. 

“Between 1957 and 1970, the (recipients of) 1.75 million citizenships bypassed the process of taking an oath,” said secretariat leader Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz. 

“Therefore, this gives us the space to challenge and question the granting of citizenship, once given to non-Malays. This is a legal issue which needs to be brought to the court and we want the court to decide.” 

Khairul said he got the number 1.75 million from a book written by the late Mohamed Suffian.

The group, which held its first meeting today in Kuala Lumpur, also wanted the government to bring back the Internal Security Act (ISA) to deal with groups like Hindu Rights Action Force, which they said had provoked the Muslim-Malay community by interfering in sensitive issues such as the RUU355 amendments and preacher Dr Zakir Naik’s permanent residency.

He also called on the Indian community to distance themselves from Hindraf to maintain peace and harmony in the country.

He said the group would also hold a nationwide tour to explain and collect signatures from Malaysians who wished to have the ISA brought back.

Perkasa, Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia, Muafakat, Yayasan GPMS and Pembela are among the groups making up Bertindak.– April 26, 2017.