6,060 individuals have renounced M'sian citizenship to become S'poreans in first half of 2025

6,060 Malaysians have given up their citizenship to become Singaporeans in the first half of 2025.

Renounce citizenship

On Aug. 7, Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, was responding to a question from PAS MP for Kota Bahru in Kelantan, Takiyuddin Hassan, by way of written reply.

As reported by the New Straits Times, Takiyuddin had asked the minister how many Malaysians had renounced their Malaysian citizenship in order to take up Singapore citizenship since 2015.

Saifuddin broke down the numbers year by year:

The 2025 number of 6,060 was as of June 2025.

The total number of citizenships renounced since 2015 was 98,318.

No dual citizenship

Neither Malaysia nor Singapore recognise dual citizenship, and citizens of either country taking up citizenship in the other are required to formally renounce their citizenship.

The experience of one individual renouncing her Malaysian citizenship recently went viral, as she shared what the process was like.

@aliciaawww Process of renouncing Malaysian citizenship once you’re 21 and legally can’t hold onto dual citizenship! Tuff thought i was gna get kicked out of SG 😔 #sg60 ♬ original sound - Alicia Aw

Top image via Dannie Tan