KUALA LUMPUR – Family rights group Family Frontiers today launched its #ManaDokumenKami campaign urging the government to expedite approval of citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian women, who they say continue to face obstacles despite a landmark court ruling months ago declaring equal rights to confer citizenship to their children.
In September, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Malaysian women have the right to confer citizenship to their children born overseas, on equal basis with Malaysian men.
Family Frontiers said Malaysian women are still having a hard time securing their children’s citizenship documents at the National Registration Department (NRD) and Malaysian diplomatic missions despite the ruling, due to what they say is a lack of procedural clarity and consistency.
“For instance, with regards to the registration of children below the age of 12 months at the Malaysian embassies – while it is immediate and straightforward for men, women are told that their documents will take an indefinite time to process and that this will be done by NRD in Putrajaya,” the group said in a statement.
Female applicants are also asked for additional documents such as new copies of their children’s birth certificates, a head-to-toe photograph of their family, and in one case a statement to say that the applicant’s three-year-old child was not attending school, Family Frontiers said.
The group urged the Home Affairs Ministry, which oversees the NRD, to issue clear instructions to all NRD branches to ensure equitable treatment for Malaysian mothers and the rights of their children.
“Impacted non-Malaysian children continue to be denied equal access to affordable healthcare, education, and the right to remain in the country with their family.”
The Court of Appeal is expected to decide on June 22 on whether to allow the federal government’s appeal against last year’s judgment in favour of Family Frontiers.
The appellate court had earlier dismissed an application by the government for a stay of execution of the high court ruling, pending the results of its appeal. – The Vibes, March 30, 2022
