KUCHING – The move to amend the federal constitution to allow overseas-born children of Malaysian mothers married to foreigners to obtain automatic Malaysian citizenship proves the concern of the unity government in upholding the principle of gender equality.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the proposed amendment should be expedited and supported by all government and opposition MPs when tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.
“We hope it (this amendment) will solve the problem of children with no citizenship. There are many people in Sarawak with the problem. This will give them justice,” she told a media conference after attending an entrepreneurship programme for women organised by the National Welfare Foundation here today.
According to Nancy, she had been approached by many women seeking help over their children’s citizenship issues.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and law and institutional reform minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said in a joint statement today, said the cabinet has approved the draft constitutional amendments to grant automatic citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers married to foreigners.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2023 on the matter is expected to be tabled in the current Parliament sitting. It would involve replacing the phrase “their father” in Part I and Part II of Schedule Two with “at least one of the parents” to enable Malaysian mothers to enjoy equitable rights under the federal constitution. – Bernama, February 18, 2023
