Commission XIII of the People's Consultative Assembly supports the government's decision to tighten the naturalisation process for foreign nationals becoming Indonesian citizens. The commission's head, Willy Aditya, said the government needs to enforce clear regulations so that citizenship status is not granted solely on the basis of factors such as athlete status or marriage ties.
According to Willy, prospective Indonesian citizens must demonstrate a commitment to integrate themselves comprehensively, not only in status but also in culture, society, and Pancasila philosophy. "They must Indonesianise themselves," he said in a statement on Sunday (9/8).
Willy cited Australia and Switzerland as examples of countries with strict naturalisation standards. In Australia, requirements include long-term residence, economic contribution or tax payment, and a cultural integration test. In Switzerland, prospective citizens must meet residency requirements of decades and undergo direct evaluation by their local community at canton level on their level of cultural assimilation.
Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas previously announced plans to tighten the naturalisation process to protect domestic asset and property ownership. Supratman said he had found indications that some naturalisation applications were submitted by foreign nationals who had established businesses in Indonesia without listing immediate family members.
"I must ensure that the purpose of naturalisation is not simply to secure assets in Indonesia and allow them to own land with ownership rights," said Supratman on Friday (7/8). Willy also expressed concern that coastal areas should not be controlled by naturalised foreign nationals and the government must prevent social and economic losses from the naturalisation policy.
