Good News For Shin Tae-Yong, DPR Plenary Meeting Agrees On Naturalization Of Jordi Amat And Sandy Walsh

Jordi Amat (right) and Sandy Walsh (left) underwent their first training with the Indonesian national team in Bandung, Friday, May 27. (doc PSSI)

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong, may be more confident looking at the 2023 AFF Cup. Jordi Amat Maas and Sandy Harry Walsh's application for naturalization was approved at the 5th Plenary Meeting of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the First Session Period of 2022-2023.

Deputy Chairman of the DPR RI Coordinator for Political and Security Sector (Korpolkam) Lodewijk F. Paulus who chaired the Plenary Meeting read out the decision after previously asking for approval, which was then answered 'agree' by all the Plenary Meeting participants.

"In accordance with the results of the discussion between Commission III and Commission X of the DPR RI which decided to approve the Granting of Indonesian Citizenship Considerations to brothers Jordi Amat Maas and Sandy Harry Walsh, in connection with that we seek approval at today's plenary meeting whether the Application for the Granting of Citizenship Consideration of the Republic of Indonesia on behalf of Jordi Very Maas and Sandy Harry Walsh can be approved?" asked Lodewijk at the Plenary Meeting at the Nusantara II Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 20.

This decision is known to be in accordance with the results of the Consultation Meeting in lieu of the Deliberative Body Meeting (Bamus) between the leadership of the DPR RI and the leaders of the factions on September 19, 2022, which assigned Commission III and Commission X of the DPR RI to discuss the two presidential letters.

"Based on the Presidential Letter (Surpres) Numbers R26 and R27 dated June 17, 2022, regarding the Application for Consideration of the Granting of Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia on behalf of Jordi Amat Maas and Sandy Harry Walsh, and the results of the discussion are then requested for approval in the Plenary Meeting," continued Lodewijk.

It is known, Jordi Amat is of Indonesian descent who was born and raised in Barcelona, ​​Spain. The 30-year-old soccer player claimed to have Indonesian blood from his grandmother. Sandy Walsh was born in Belgium to a British-born father of Irish descent, and a Swiss-Dutch-born mother of Indonesian descent.

After this, the file is returned to the President and the DPR recommends that both of them can be granted the status of Indonesian Citizens (WNI).

After that, the President will issue a Presidential Decree regarding the award of Indonesian citizens to Jordi Amat Maas and Sandy Harry Walsh. And the last stage, both will be sworn in as Indonesian citizens by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (HAM).

The 2022 AFF Cup draw results have been released, Tuesday, 30 August. The Indonesian national team is in Group A with Thailand. The Garuda squad is also joined by the Philippines, Cambodia, and the winners of the 2022 AFF Cup qualifiers, namely between Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste.

The Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-yong admitted that Thailand was the toughest opponent in this group. Moreover, the State of the White Elephant is the defending champion of the AFF Cup.

Shin said he will choose the best players who are ready mentally, in quality, and physically. The man from South Korea then hoped that the naturalization process of Jordi Amat, Sandy Walsh, and Shayne Pattiname could be completed soon.

"We hope that the three of them can soon join the Indonesian national team," said the former South Korean national team coach.

The 2022 AFF Cup is planned to start on December 20, 2022 until January 23, 2023. In the previous edition of the 2020 Cup, Indonesia won the runner-up.