BATU KAWAN – PKR must support the private member’s bill submitted by a lawmaker from a rival party so that Malaysian mothers can confer citizenship on overseas-born children, party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Speaking at the Wanita PKR convention here today, the opposition leader said the entire party should be involved in addressing the abuse and discrimination of women, including the plight of Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses and children born abroad.
“We must follow through on the private member’s bill to amend the federal constitution to allow the children of Malaysian women born overseas to be granted citizenship of this country,” Anwar said.
The private member’s bill was submitted by Umno’s Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She recently filed for a motion to table amendments to the constitution to allow children born overseas to be granted citizenship through their Malaysian mothers.
Anwar said women’s issues must also be championed by men, adding that the whole of PKR must address economic and social woes that women faced.
Women should not handle these issues alone as these problems involved all segments of society, including men, the PKR president said.
On the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, where his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar is MP, Anwar said Penang PKR had been instructed to commence a study on the economic plight of women here.
At a press conference later, Anwar was asked about speculation that he would only contest in a non-Malay majority seat in the coming general election.
The Port Dickson MP said he had not made up his mind yet, and in jest, added that he would need to “ask Chinese voters first”.
Anwar said he was not like Umno or Bersatu leaders who only wanted to contest in Malay-dominated seats.
“They are not multiracial in their outlook.
“I am a leader of a Malay-majority party which is also multiracial. We want what is best for the country, not just for one group.”
Anwar is later scheduled to speak in Perlis and Kedah as he completes his one-day tour of the northern region. – The Vibes, September 25, 2022
