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number of legislators have argued for the need to relax the nation’s citizenship regulations following the sacking of a minister due to his dual nationality, saying that such a move was needed to allow more Indonesians in the diaspora to contribute to their country.

But other legislators have openly opposed such a development, arguing that the strict prohibition of dual citizenship is necessary to safeguard national interests.

The Democratic Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) are of the opinion that the 2006 Law on Citizenship should be amended to provide some wiggle room for talented Indonesians who also have foreign citizenship.

“We urgently need to revise the legislation because the existing one is too rigid, we should make it more flexible,” Democratic Party legislator Ruhut Sitompul said. “Of course, the country may not be able to recognize dual citizenship, but we could formulate a regulation that could allow all outstanding Indonesian people to serve in Indonesia.”

Indonesia needs outstanding people and we should not hold them back, PKS politician Nasir Djamil said. “I think we need to review the law to find a fair solution. The option [for revision] is available.”

Existing regulations do not allow Indonesians to hold dual citizenship. If an Indonesian pledges allegiance to a foreign country, the person’s Indonesian citizenship will be automatically revoked.

Calls for relaxing the regulations came after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo dismissed Arcandra Tahar from his position as energy and mineral resources minister after serving in the post for just three weeks. Arcandra, who resided in the US for 20 years, is believed to have become a naturalized American citizen in 2012.

Amid public outcry over the scandal, the State Palace refused to allow 16-year-old Gloria Natapradja Hamel to take part in a flag-raising ceremony at the palace to celebrate Indonesia’s independence on Aug. 17 after it was discovered she held a French passport. The Palace, however, finally relented and allowed her to join the flag-lowering ceremony.

Gloria is the daughter of an Indonesian mother, Ira Natapradja, and a French father, Didier Hamel, but was born in Indonesia and goes to an Indonesian school.

Under the Citizenship Law, children with dual citizenship have to choose their nationality when they reach 18 years of age.

Indonesian expatriates overseas have long pushed for the government to allow dual citizenship.

Dino Patti Djalal, the initiator of the Congress of Indonesian Diaspora and a former Indonesian ambassador to the US, said he believed that allowing dual citizenship would encourage the Indonesian diaspora to contribute more to Indonesia.

“The Indonesian diaspora do not want to lose their Indonesian citizenship. They want the opportunity to contribute to the nation,” he said. “My ideas is that the government can select certain countries. The selection of the countries is based on the analysis of the costs and benefits.”

About 8 million Indonesians are estimated to be living overseas.

Some legislators, however, oppose the proposal to revise the Citizenship Law, saying the current regulation is good enough and there should be no compromise on the issue of dual citizenship.

“Felons may use their second citizenship to hide. Dual citizenship can be implemented only if our country has properly managed its population and tax administration,” said Hendrawan Supratikno, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction in the House of Representatives.

Dadang Rusdiana, the secretary of the Hanura Party, said it was too early to revise the law.

“It is better to offer those people naturalization,” he said. “If we can respect and appreciate their abilities, I’m sure that many Indonesians abroad are willing to come back to the country.” (fac)