I am surprised. The breast beating, portrait burning, screaming obscenities ‘champions of nationalism' - politicians and a certain mainstream vernacular newspaper alike - have remained strangely comatose at claims that foreigners and PR holders are being granted citizenship status just as speculation mount on a snap general election in Malaysia.

Awarding a citizenship is no laughing matter.

It is no ‘ suka suka' matter.

A person can become a citizen of Malaysia only by registration or naturalisation.

In cases by registration, where a person is by operation of law is a citizen but has yet to be registered, such a person is entitled to citizenship upon application and be registered as a citizen of Malaysia.

For cases by naturalisation, this refers to the process of admitting a person not a citizen of Malaysia, to citizenship.

This is subjected to the requirements and conditions as laid out by the Government of Malaysia.

And one of the requirements of citizenship is that that person is disallowed to hold any other country's citizenship.

In this latest salvo fired at the federal agencies and the now under siege Malaysian Election Commission, many pertinent questions have been raised against the professionalism, impartiality, dedication, bipartisanship, governance and ethics of federal agencies.

More so, with this shocking revelation of over 1,600 cases of foreigners being given the right to vote between March to June this year alone.

Using this as an issue doubts are also raised over other border protection programs such as the current drive to register millions of migrant workers - both legal and illegal.

Opposition lawmakers have asked for an emergency sitting of Parliament to be called during the Ramadan fasting month to debate the issue of fraudulent voters.

And we must allow this in view the seriousness of the allegations and its impact on the sovereignty of the nation!

The issue of fraudulent voters is not a new issue making its rounds as it was quite infamous in Sabah where the allegations were rather serious as those behind that exercise were clearly identified but till today, remain ‘untouchable!'

Till today, it is one of the contentions that have upset the locals in Sabah as they feel their state is being overrun by foreigners from the Philippines and Indonesia now carrying local identity papers which has upset the balance of power and threatens the socio-economic conditions of that state.

The Selangor claims are said to be just the ‘tip of the iceberg' but if the allegations are true, then this is basically treason.

Are we going to hear professional and well qualified answers, or will those raising the questions be threatened, shouted down and accused of undermining the nation and threatening its security?

Since Selangor is mentioned, we, who are bipartisan, are setting up a task force in Selangor to verify these serious allegations and I am being advised that similar moves are now being made in all peninsula based states by other parties and NGOs!

In the present political climate and undercurrents it would be rather foolish to issue denials or threats.

It is best we address this issue with sincerity, common sense and professionalism.

A bipartisan high powered royal commission must now be set up to address these serious allegations which if true, threaten to undermine the sovereignty of the nation, its national security and foundation!

 Dr Jacob George is the president of the Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam, Selangor.