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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 65220, member: 636"]
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed today that the Malaysian citizenship granted to seven members of the Harimau Malaya national football team was fully in accordance with the law.

He explained that 23 players, including the seven latest, had applied for citizenship, and the process followed the Federal Constitution and Citizenship Rules 1964. Applicants underwent interviews and biometric checks, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Saifuddin Nasution emphasized that the naturalization process is rigorous, requiring personal application, residence in Malaysia for a specified period, good conduct, and proficiency in Bahasa Melayu. He added that the issue of player eligibility is governed by FIFA’s regulations, and any inconsistencies raised should be handled by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

He also clarified that all birth certificates were issued by the National Registration Department under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957, stating that FIFA’s concerns about document authenticity did not involve Malaysian authorities. The players were sanctioned by FIFA for submitting forged documents in relation to their eligibility for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
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