KUALA LUMPUR — In the latest development regarding the controversy over support letters allegedly issued by the President of Warisan, Shafie Apdal, during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Sabah, an important question arises concerning the extent of a state leader’s authority in the documentation process for local citizens who lack birth certificates or official citizenship status.
Legal experts clarify that all matters related to citizenship and the issuance of identification documents such as MyKad, MyPR, or MyKAS fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government, through the National Registration Department (NRD) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, a valid question remains: Does a Chief Minister have any leeway to support the appeals of citizens who require documentation assistance on humanitarian and administrative grounds?
Shafie’s lawyer, Chen Ket Chuin, stressed that these letters were issued with the noble intention of assisting marginalised Sabahans, particularly those facing difficulties in obtaining official documents due to logistical challenges and the lack of family records such as marriage certificates.
“What is wrong with helping local children whose rights have been neglected simply because their births were not registered on time? We are helping local citizens, not undocumented immigrants,” Chen explained in his statement.
As journalists who adhere to the principles of ethical reporting, we would like to present this matter to the public without prejudice:
What are the legal boundaries for a Chief Minister in supporting the documentation applications of state residents?
If these support letters are purely administrative and do not exert any pressure on federal authorities, are they considered lawful?
Is there room for state leaders to exercise discretion in assisting their people without overstepping federal authority?
So far, the authorities have not reached any official conclusion, and investigations are expected to provide further clarification. It is important to note that any support letter from a state leader holds no legal power to approve citizenship or identity document applications — it merely serves as a reference or consideration.
As responsible journalists, we urge all parties to respect the ongoing legal process and allow space for further clarification from the authorities and legal representatives involved.