558 Chinese get citizenship

TERNATE, Maluku: The government has granted Indonesian citizenship to 558 stateless people of Chinese-descent in the Maluku Utara regency, Antara reported yesterday.

The head of the social and political affairs office here, Fachri Amari, said 608 stateless residents had applied for citizenship at three district courts in the regency.

Amari was quoted as saying that the remaining 50 people were still on the waiting list and their applications were being processed by the Ministry of Justice in Jakarta.

He said the government never refused a resident's application for citizenship unless the applicant failed to meet the administrative requirements.

Louis, head of the local Bakom PKB, pledged yesterday that all ethnic Chinese in the regency would be ready to help the government in its efforts to reduce gap between the poor and the rich.

Bakom PKB is a forum of public figures from various ethnic groups that was established in 1977 to promote national unity. (aan)