PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA December 17, 2025 – The National Registration Department (JPN) has issued a media statement clarifying its approach to handling dual citizenship issues, emphasizing that its actions are fully aligned with the Federal Constitution and existing laws. The statement comes in response to a viral social media clip that allegedly misrepresented comments by JPN’s Director-General regarding the possession of multiple nationalities.
In the statement, JPN acknowledged the spread of a news clip excerpt on social media, which was taken out of context. The department reiterated that Malaysia, as a sovereign nation, does not recognize dual citizenship. Under the Federal Constitution, Malaysian citizens who acquire foreign citizenship can voluntarily renounce their Malaysian nationality, as an alternative to having it revoked under Articles 24, 25, or 26.
“The original statement by the JPN Director-General, published as a news article, refers to the current approach in addressing dual citizenship issues, which has long been provided for in the Federal Constitution,” the release explained. It stressed that JPN’s role is limited to conducting verifications, reviewing documents, and preparing recommendations based on case facts, in line with legal provisions. Final decisions on citizenship revocation rest with the Federal Government through the Home Affairs Minister.
JPN clarified that any reference to “considering recommendations” does not imply a policy change or automatic actions against individuals. Instead, it highlights options for citizenship revocation that can be evaluated to ensure fair, prudent, and law-based management of nationality matters.
The department emphasized that no arbitrary actions are taken, and each case is assessed in detail based on facts, constitutional provisions, and approvals from relevant authorities. “JPN wants to assert that no unwarranted actions are taken, and every case will be evaluated thoroughly,” the statement read.
Additionally, JPN urged media portals and third parties to report and share information accurately and responsibly, in accordance with the actual context of official statements, to prevent public confusion and misunderstandings.
The statement concluded with a brief overview of JPN’s broader responsibilities under the Home Affairs Ministry, which include registering vital events such as births, deaths, adoptions, marriages, and divorces, as well as determining citizenship status and issuing identity cards to eligible individuals.
This clarification follows ongoing public discussions on citizenship policies, particularly in light of Malaysians holding foreign passports. JPN’s communication unit issued the statement on behalf of the Director-General, with contact details provided for further inquiries.
For more details, the full statement is available on JPN’s official channels.
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