HOME Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today with the implementation of an integrated security vetting system by the National Registration Department (NRD), in collaboration with Bukit Aman, the citizenship application processing period will now reduced from 73 to 14 days.

“Before this, the citizenship application documents received by the NRD would be submitted to the police physically (printed), but with this system, the documents will be submitted online,” he said at a press conference, after officiating the NRD’s 75th anniversary celebration in Putrajaya today.

He said the system will automatically reject an application if it finds the applicant is involved with an organisation considered dangerous and a threat to public order, and those who overstayed.

Apart from that, Saifuddin said the cabinet will finalise the establishment of a single agency to regulate the country’s borders soon.

“The decision of who will be involved in the single border agency will be made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the cabinet.

“Security and national border control in any country is important and there are several agencies under the Home Ministry.”

He said ministry staff have been asked to be prepared if the ministry and its agencies soon estalishes such agency.

There are currently more than 20 agencies involved in regulating the country’s borders, including the Immigration Department, the Customs Department and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department. – Bernama, October 25, 2023.