Kemenkumham: Many Children From Mixed Marriages Want To Become Indonesian Citizens

Screenshot of the Director General of AHU Kemenkumham Cahyo R. Muzhar at the national symposium on constitutional law (ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar)

JAKARTA - The Director General of General Legal Administration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Cahyo R. Muzhar, said that children from mixed marriages want to obtain Indonesian citizenship status.

"Actually, many of them want to become Indonesian citizens," said Cahyo at a virtual national symposium on constitutional law as monitored in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, May 18.

Currently, he added, the children resulting from mixed marriages between Indonesian citizens (WNI) and foreign nationals (WNA) have pocketed foreign citizenship, including Britain, the United States, Australia, and European Union countries.

He suspected that the children chose foreigner status because they did not understand the time limit for choosing a definitive citizenship, which is a maximum of 21 years. In addition, the reasons for scholarships and facilities in foreign countries are also a consideration for children resulting from mixed marriages.

Cahyo does not deny that many children from mixed marriages give up their Indonesian citizenship status, because the offer to become foreigners in certain countries is considered more promising.

Regarding the possibility of the Government withdrawing the children to become Indonesian citizens, he said that the Government is currently revising the government regulation (PP) which regulates the matter and is expected to be completed this year so that it can be promulgated.

"We will give one more chance to apply for Indonesian citizenship," he said.

At the same time, it becomes homework for the Government and related parties to disseminate information so that children from mixed marriages return to the country with the status of Indonesian citizens.

In general, these efforts are part of President Joko Widodo's direction to create superior human resources (HR), advanced Indonesia.

In order to achieve the vision of superior human resources, the Government also encourages the nation's children to continue their studies abroad. The hope is that after completing these studies, they will return to their country to serve.