Malaysian born Labor MP Sam Lim remained a Malaysian citizen for over 13 years after becoming an Australian citizen, in defiance of Malaysia's laws.

by Ganesh Sahathevan

Newly elected Malaysian born Labor MP Sam Lim's Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) candidate declaration. includes his Australian citizenship certificate, which is dated 13 December 2008. He states in his declaration that he ceased being a Malaysian citizen on 10 September 2021. Malaysia does not permit dual citizenship, and he was therefore in breach of Malaysia's laws for over 13 years.

The proof of renunciation he provides is a letter  from Malaysia's National Registry Department, addressed not to him but to a consular officer at the Malaysian consulate in Perth,  which states that Lim's declaration of renunciation has been "registered" on 10 September 2021, and that he was no longer a Malaysian citizen as of that date. 

There are two issues that arise from that letter.First, it is addressed to a consular officer, and not Lim. Why it has been provided Lim is unclear. Second, while it states that Lim's brith certificate is to be returned to him, it does not say if it now bears the appropriate stamp to signify that he is no longer a Malaysian citizen.

As stated before, Lim has provided proof that he has applied to renounce his Malaysian citizenship. Better evidence is required that he has in fact ceased to be a Malaysian citizen, That evidence should  include an explanation as to why Lim has not provided the AEC  any correspondence from the  relevant Malaysian authority addressed to him. The same issue has been raised by this writer with regards documents produced by Senator Penny Wong.

Meanwhile, it should be of concern to Australians that a sitting MP was in breach of a foreign country's laws, in this case for over 13 years.

 

TO BE READ WITH 

realpolitikasia

Monday, May 23, 2022

Malaysian born Labor MP Sam Lim has applied to renounce Malaysian citizenship, no evidence provided that the application has been accepted, and that Lim is no longer a Malaysian citizen

 by Ganesh Sahathevan

Newly elected Malaysian born Labor MP Sam Lim's Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) candidate declaration states, as proof that he is no longer a Malaysian citizen:

The process of renouncing Malaysian citizenship involves making an application to renounce citizenship, which the Malaysian Government may or may not accept. Acceptance of the application is notified by letter, and a stamp on the Malaysian Government issued birth certificate which declares that the person is no longer a Malaysian citizen. Lim has not provided any of that. 

The registration that he refers to in his AEC declaration is the registration of the application to renounce citizenship, nothing more. 

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