He said this was because applications involving the two categories are the highest so far, followed by the category of children born abroad to Malaysian women married to foreigners.

“Applications for citizenship involving children born out of wedlock are high. These children should not be discriminated against because of their parents’ fault. So, we are giving priority to their applications.

“Last year, we achieved the target of resolving 14,000 cases. Now that number has reached over 15,000, we will maintain the same momentum this year,” he told reporters after a gathering with the Indian community here today.

He said there were also applications for citizenship under the naturalisation category, but only a few.

In another development, Saifuddin confirmed that the police had received a report about the leak regarding the investigation of the murder of autistic child Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin and the matter was being investigated.

The police report followed a leak of purported police investigation details, less than 24 hours after Zayn Rayyan’s parents pleaded not guilty to a charge of neglecting their child.

The group had uploaded on the Telegram app what it claims were statements taken by investigators from both parents.

Asked whether the government will block the Telegram platform following the leak, Saifuddin said he left it to communications minister Fahmi Fadzil to decide on this.

On another matter, Saifuddin said more than 600 police personnel would be assigned to maintain security for the July 6 Sungai Bakap by-election and voters need not worry .

He said Penang police chief Hamzah Ahmad had given him a full briefing regarding preparations for the by-election.

During the meeting, a total of RM120,000 was also donated to four Hindu temples in the Sungai Bakap area as a personal donation from PKR deputy information chief R Ramanan.