KUALA LUMPUR – A Home Ministry infographic on Malaysian citizenship shared on Twitter has been met with fierce criticism, especially from human rights lawyer and former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Latheefa Koya, and economist Nungsari Ahmad Radhi.
Latheefa lambasted the ministry, calling the tweet “evil and nonsensical propaganda”.
“This nonsensical propaganda of the Home Ministry has real consequences for the tens of thousands of people who are entitled to citizenship, but are denied again and again.
“The Home Ministry should be more responsible than to issue a tweet with a false narrative – apparently, people are applying for citizenship just because they were born in Malaysia.
“Thousands of Malaysians are automatically denied citizenship despite fulfilling the terms set out in the constitution.”
Inilah propaganda rasmi yg jahat & mengarut! 1/7 https://t.co/5LA0UFfq5f
— Latheefa Koya (@LatheefaKoya) October 10, 2021
She pointed to Section 1(e), Second Schedule, Part II (Article 14) of the constitution that states “every person born within the Federation who is not born a citizen of any country otherwise than by virtue of this paragraph”.
The systematic denial of citizenship is a historic injustice that brings shame to the country, she said.
Nungsari questioned the decision to confer citizenship on children whose fathers are non-citizens, while their mothers are permanent residents.
“Children whose mothers are Malaysians are not conferred citizenship. How low the status of Malaysian women is.”
Bapa bukan warganegara + ibu pemaustatin tetap, anak adalah warganegara jika lahir di Malaysia. Anak yg ibunya warganegara yg berkahwin dgn bukan warganegara di luar negara adalah bukan warganegara. Rendahnya status warganegara wanita Malaysia. @KDNPUTRAJAYA https://t.co/GGFD2LFv4W
— Nungsari A Radhi (@nungsari) October 11, 2021
Despite the landmark ruling by the high court here, Malaysian mothers still face an uphill task trying to apply for citizenship for their children born overseas.
In early September, the high court ruled that Malaysian mothers have the right to confer citizenship on their children born abroad, on an equal basis as Malaysian men.
It ruled that Article 14(1)(b) of the constitution, together with the Second Schedule, Part II, Section 1(b) pertaining to citizenship rights, must be read in harmony with Article 8(2) of the constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender.
Just last week, several mothers shared the challenges in their years-long journey to secure Malaysian citizenship for their children. – The Vibes, October 11, 2021
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