Home Ministry to verify citizenship of Sungai Golok shooting suspect with Thai authorities as Malaysia does not recognise dual nationality.
ALOR GAJAH: The Home Affairs Ministry will seek Thailand’s assistance to verify the citizenship of a suspect involved in a recent Sungai Golok shooting incident.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the move follows indications that the man, in his 30s, holds dual citizenship, which Malaysia does not legally recognise.
“I will ask the National Registration Department to compare records,” he said after officiating the 2025 Malaysian Skills Certificate Convocation of the Malaysia Volunteer Department.
“We need cooperation from Thailand to confirm the facts.”
Saifuddin emphasised that verification cannot be done unilaterally and requires bilateral cooperation.
The minister said the government is exploring ways to address long-standing issues involving individuals with dual citizenship, particularly those living in border areas.
“We need to examine the matter closely, study it carefully and find the best solution,” he stated.
He noted that Malaysia’s cooperation with Thailand extends across various border-level and security committees that meet regularly.
Saifuddin said he will propose the matter for discussion at the ministry level through these existing platforms.
The shooting incident last Sunday in Sungai Golok, Narathiwat, left a Malaysian man dead.
The suspect, a former Kelantan football team import player, later surrendered to Thai police.
At the RELA convocation, 436 graduates comprising 139 officers, 281 members and 16 staff received certificates in various fields including Security Service Supervision, Office Administration and Technical Firearms Training. – Bernama
