JOHOR BARU: Allegations that the Government is issuing citizenship to property buyers from China allowing them to vote in the coming general election are baseless, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

He pointed out the process of obtaining even a permanent resident status let alone citizenship would take years.

“I hope that the people are not easily influenced by baseless allegations,” Nur Jazlan said in response to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that Chinese buyers of the Forest City project here were offered citizenship status.

“Such claims will probably not help boost the rakyat’s confidence in the Opposition but the purpose of his action was to confuse the people,” he told reporters here.

Nur Jazlan also denied that there are plans for a Cabinet reshuffle, as widely circulated on social media.

“These kind of allegations only cause confusion with the intention to spark rage among the people as well as to divide the Barisan Nasional,” he added.-thestar