SABAH MPs may withhold their support for the controversial citizenship amendment bills in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting later this month.
According to Keningau MP Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, the state cabinet has discussed the bill and agreed the state should be excluded to safeguard its unique population and social concerns.
“Our position is clear: if this amendment goes through, let it apply only in Peninsular Malaysia,” Kitingan told reporters today.
“We don’t want it to negatively affect our people, particularly those in rural areas who sometimes become stateless due to a lack of access (to obtain proper documentation).”
Jeffrey described the amendments as a "double-edged sword" with benefits and drawbacks, but passing the amendment can also open up Sabah to illegal immigrants once again.
The call for exemption highlights growing concern over the impact the amendments could have on the state.
A total of 28 organisations and 38 activists urged Sabah’s MPs to reject the proposed changes, arguing that they would further complicate citizenship access for displaced natives and exacerbate the issue of statelessness in Sabah.
One of the proposed amendments is the removal of automatic citizenship for children born to Malaysian permanent residents, which activists warn could worsen conditions for stateless individuals, limiting their access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and employment.
The rural population and children of mixed parentage are particularly vulnerable, with advocates expressing frustration that the government had not consulted them, despite their experience in dealing with affected communities.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was first tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on March 25, would also grant citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian women and lower the age for citizenship applications by registration from 21 to 18.
The bill is expected to be up for its second reading during this month's Parliament sitting.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated in July that while the amendments had received positive feedback from the Conference of Rulers, some aspects still required further refinement. – October 4, 2024
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