Minister says SBKRI not essential

JAKARTA: Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said bureaucrats at the lower level continued to ask Chinese-Indonesians to produce the Indonesian Citizenship Document (SBKRI) due to their lack of knowledge of the law.

Yusril said the ministry had not intensively promoted the government policy that no longer requires Chinese-Indonesians to present the SBKRI to apply for an identity card or passport.

"If they ask you, you have to tell them you don't need to present the SBKRI as your grandfather already has it and just show them your birth certificate," he said.

He said the SBKRI was only required by foreign nationals who wish to pursue Indonesian citizenship for the first time. Their children and grandchildren do not need the SBKRI. -- JP