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WHAT DOES "ADEQUATE" KNOWLEDGE OF MALAY LANGUAGE MEAN ?

A person applying for citizenship by naturalization should have an adequate knowledge of the Malaysia or native language.

The registrar of citizens shall whenever and for the area required, set up a Language Board for the purpose of determining whether or not a person applying for citizenship under the Citizenship Rules 1964 has an adequate knowledge of the Malay or native language as required by a person so applying.

A person is deemed to have an adequate knowledge of the Malay language if it is in the opinion of the Language Board he or she is able to with reasonable proficiency to speak that language and unless prevented by blindness or other physical impediments, to read and write Malay in the Jawi or Rumi (Roman alphabet) script.

However the provisions relating to reading and writing of Malay in the Jawi or Rumi (Roman alphabet) script shall not apply to an applicant who was resident in the States of Malaya on Merdeka Day.

HOW IS THE CALCULATION FOR PERIOD OF RESIDENCE IN MALAYSIA ?

Any residence in Malaysia

• a period of absence from Malaysia of less than 6 months
• a period of absence from Malaysia for the purposes of education of such kind, in such country and for such time as may from time to time be either generally or specially approved by the Minister
• a period of absence from Malaysia for reasons of health
• a period of absence from Malaysia on duty in the service of the Malaysia or of any State, where such period is not inconsistent with the essential continuity of such residence

shall be treated as residence in Malaysia.

However, any residence in Malaysia,

• a period during which a person was not lawfully resident in Malaysia
• a period spent as an inmate of any prison or as a person detained in lawful custody in any other place, other than a mental hospital, under the provisions of any written law of Malaysia and
• a period during which a person is allowed to remain temporarily in Malaysia under the authority of any pass issued or exemption order made under the provisions of any written law of Malaysia relating to immigration

shall not be treated as residence in Malaysia.