Indonesian Parliament passes citizenship of JDT's Jordi Amat

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Lawmakers have approved a proposal granting Indonesian citizenship to Malaysia Super League club, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT)’s centre-back Jordi Amat Maas.

Jordi, 30, is the Spanish professional footballer whose Indonesian heritage comes from his grandmother born in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Commission III of the House of Representatives also approved the citizenship of Sandy Henny Walsh, who is currently playing for Belgian club KV Mechelen as a defender.

Sandy, 27, inherited Indonesian blood from his mother, where his grandfather is from Surabaya, West Java and her grandmother is from Purworejo, Central Java.

The naturalisation proposals were presented by Law and Human Rights Minister Edward O.S. Hiariej, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali and head of Football Association of Indonesia Mochamad Iriawan.

In a statement, Edward said they were given Indonesian citizenship under the provision of granting citizenship for their achievements in the state's interest in the field of sports.

Jordi and Sandi, who joined the meeting virtually wearing batik shirts on Monday, showed their fluency in reciting the state philosophy 'Pancasila' in Bahasa Indonesia.

With the approval, both players are expected to improve the national football team’s performance and are now waiting for the Presidential Decrees on citizenship.

-- BERNAMA