Padang people lose citizenship

PADANG, West Sumatra: An immigration officer has said that a group of West Sumatrans have lost their Indonesian citizenship after working abroad for years and failing to report to local Indonesian embassies. West Sumatrans are known for their love of traveling.

"West Sumatran workers in Malaysia, for instance, lost their citizenship after working there for five years and failing to report to the Indonesian embassy there," R. Sunandar said yesterday, reported Antara.

Every Indonesian residing abroad should report annually, he said, adding that a number of stateless Indonesians have recently returned from Malaysia using Malaysian passes. He did not specify how many but said the stateless people could apply for temporary staying permits. (swe)