Federal Constitution [Article 16a] 30 and the applicant has attained the age of forty-five years at the date of the application, that he has a sufficient knowledge of the Malay language or the English language or, in the case of an applicant ordinarily resident in Sarawak, the Malay language, the English language or any native language in current use in Sarawak. 17. (Repealed). General provisions as to registration 18. (1) No person of or over the age of eighteen years shall be registered as a citizen under this Constitution until he has taken the oath set out in the First Schedule. (2) Except with the approval of the Federal Government, no person who has renounced or has been deprived of citizenship under this Constitution or who has renounced or has been deprived of federal citizenship or citizenship of the Federation before Merdeka Day under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948 shall be registered as a citizen under this Constitution. (3) A person registered as a citizen under this Constitution shall be a citizen by registration from the day on which he is so registered. (4) (Repealed). Citizenship by naturalization 19. (1) Subject to Clause (9), the Federal Government may, upon application made by any person of or over the age of twenty-one years who is not a citizen, grant a certificate of naturalization to that person if satisfied— (a) that— (i) he has resided in the Federation for the required periods and intends, if the certificate is granted, to do so permanently; (ii) (Repealed); (b) that he is of good character; and (c) that he has an adequate knowledge of the Malay language.