JOHOR BARU: A Malaysian will automatically lose his Malaysian citizenship if he is found to have dual citizenship, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday.
He said the Constitution clearly states that a Malaysian would lose his citizenship once he becomes a citizen of another country.
"We have to look at the laws of our country, especially the highest legislation, which is the Federal Constitution which only recognises one citizenship for Malaysians.
"If any Malaysian has dual citizenship, he or she will automatically lose the Malaysian citizenship (or if) he or she has applied to be a citizen of another country," he said when asked to comment on the Sarawak legislative assembly disqualifying Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon of the DAP for allegedly having Australian citizenship.
Zahid said the decision of the Sarawak Assembly could be challenged or brought to court by the relevant political party. Nevertheless, the Federal Constitution must be upheld as the leading legal reference and respected by all.
"This is not a question of politicising an issue, but a question of principle upheld by the legislative system and the people of Malaysia," he said.
The Sarawak assembly disqualified Dr Ting as the assemblyman for Pujut on May 12 citing his alleged Australian citizenship. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, however, claims that the assembly had abused its authority to disqualify Dr Ting, and that the matter will be brought to court. -- BERNAMA