Lukewarm response likely to citizenship offer 17 Jul 2006 By Sulaiman Jaafar and Sharifah Mahsinah
------------------------------------------------------------------- RANTAU PANJANG: The Government has given the option to people living in the border area with dual Thai-Malaysian citizenship to become Malaysian citizens but it is most unlikely that the offer will be taken up. Most of them, are believed to be living along the Thai side of the Golok river and their dual citizenship makes it easy for them to enter and leave both countries. To get them to acknowledge that they hold two nationalities, however, is difficult as most are afraid of repercussions from the Thai Government. The group is mostly active in businesses, including at the various bazaars and markets here, commuting daily from their homes in Sungai Golok. One trader admitted that it would be better off for them to take Malaysian citizenship but they preferred to keep both so that they could travel in both countries without much problems. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who attended a General Border committee meeting in Bangkok which ended on Friday, said the offer was in line with an agreement between Malaysia and Thailand to resolve the issue of dual citizenship. Najib said the Government would like those with dual citizenship to decide which nationality they preferred and would accept them since they are also Malaysian citizens. A Rantau Panjang community leader, Syed Ahmad Syed Abdullah, 60, said about 90 per cent of the people living on the Thai side of the Golok river from Sungai Golok to Takbai had dual citizenship, estimating the number at about 10,000. The former school headmaster, who has relatives on both sides of the border, said most of them were originally from Kelantan or had their roots in the State. Syed Ahmad also admitted that his grandfather, Daud Awang, who died in 1980 at the age of 89, had both Thai-Malaysian citizenship. "He went to tap rubber in Sungai Golok during the Japanese occupation and then bought some land there and was offered Thai citizenship. "However, he returned here permanently in 1975 as he was frequently blackmailed by crooks." Syed Ahmad said given a choice, most of the people, would take up Malaysian citizenship as there were more opportunities for a better life here. "But they have been used to it and I doubt, they will give up any of their citizenship. Most of them have businesses and families on both sides, keeping both will make their travelling easier," he said. Meanwhile, Malay-Thai community leader and former Sungai Golok mayor Abdul Aziz Awang Seman, when contacted, said the actual number is slightly lower than the 10,000, maybe about 7,000. He said the people had been living for generations in Thailand but their forefathers were from Kelantan. "I welcome the option given by the Malaysian Government but I am not sure how many will accept it. "People who have been crossing the border regularly, especially those working in Malaysia and married to Malaysians, and planned to stay there permanently, of course, will choose to apply for Malaysia citizenship," he said. //NST ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/ZP59lB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/perakan/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
