IN light of new numbers from the Home Ministry that confirm the approval rate of citizenship applications for foreign-born children of Malaysian mothers is less than 1%, leaving more than 2,300 applications in limbo since 2018, Family Frontiers calls on the government to expedite the process to amend the federal constitution to ensure equal citizenship rights of Malaysian women.
On October 26, in response to a question by Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh on the number of citizenship applications made by Malaysian mothers for their overseas-born children as of this month, the Home Minister revealed that, out of 2,352 citizenship applications made by Malaysian mothers between 2018 and October 11, this year, only 21 children were granted citizenship whereas 31 applications were rejected.
In a span of three years, only 2.2% of the citizenship applications were fully processed, and only 0.89% resulted in citizenship for children of Malaysian women.
Approval rates in previous years were not much better. Between 2013 and 2018, only 142 of 4,112 applications were approved (3.4% success rate). In the meantime, the remaining 96% of the applications continue to be processed.
These abysmal numbers speak to the problem Family Frontiers has been raising: that the selective and “case-by-case” approval of citizenship applications by Malaysian mothers for their overseas-born children is ineffective and flawed, and causes physical, financial and emotional harm to Malaysian families.
The Malaysian government, particularly the Home Ministry, must be accountable and transparent to its people. In line with the 100-day report card implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to gauge ministers’ performances, surely the Home Ministry must have KPIs to enhance the productivity and accountability of its officers.
The home minister needs to ensure that these KPIs are impact-driven and place the best interest of children as the paramount consideration.
It has now become a well-known fact that only Malaysian fathers can confer citizenship on their overseas-born children by “operation of law”, while Malaysian mothers married to a foreign spouse are made to rely on “citizenship by registration” for their children’s citizenship – a discretionary process filled with lengthy delays, repeated rejections without reasons and no guarantee of approval.
Each day that a Malaysian mother does not hear back on her child’s citizenship application is a day that she becomes more vulnerable to domestic violence; remains forcibly separated from her family; lives with the anxiety of not knowing what is in store for her children’s future; and, suffers the financial drain of raising a non-Malaysian child from bearing the additional costs that result from constant visa and pass renewals – not to mention lengthy wait times and repeated applications for citizenship.
Malaysian women struggle daily to ensure that their children are able to access fundamental rights such as education, healthcare and national identity. In Family Frontiers’ network, one Malaysian mother caring for her two overseas-born children with disabilities has been forced to choose one child over the other for expensive therapy treatments, as they do not qualify for the healthcare benefits provided by the Malaysian government.
Behind these numbers and long, bureaucratic procedures are Malaysian lives at risk. The government is effectively ignoring the welfare of not only its women citizens – to whom it has promised equal protection under the law and protection from gender-based discrimination – but also the best interest of their children.
Malaysian mothers at Family Frontiers want to know:
- Has the attorney-general sought an audience with the deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong as directed by cabinet more than one month ago, to receive the consent from the Conference of Rulers for the constitutional amendment, as per the commitment made by the home minister?
- When does the government intend to table the constitution amendment bill to ensure equal citizenship rights of Malaysian women (and their overseas-born children)?
Family Frontiers calls on MPs from across the political divide to stand by Malaysian mothers and ask the government for a concrete timeline and a status update on the process of amending the federal constitution.
When it won a seat at the UN Human Rights Council, Malaysia pledged to prioritise the rights of vulnerable groups, including children and women. It is time for the Malaysian government to walk its talk, and stand by its pledges and commitments by expediting the process of amending the federal constitution.
In the spirit of 100 days of #KeluargaMalaysia, amend the constitution to make concrete the landmark ruling by the Kuala Lumpur High Court issued on September 9. What could be more important than protecting the rights and well-being of Malaysian families? – The Vibes, October 28, 2021
Family Frontiers, alternatively known The Association of Family Support and Welfare Selangor & KL, is a non-governmental agency that supports, advocate for and mobilises action towards gender-equal citizenship rights and the welfare of Malaysian binational families
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