Don’t forget the rest, Unicef tells govt after 3 stateless children given citizenship

Unicef representative to Malaysia Marianne Clark-Hattingh says children shouldn’t suffer because of their parents. (AFP pic)

PETALING JAYA: The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) today welcomed the granting of citizenship to three stateless children and urged Putrajaya to maintain this stand in future.

“We welcome the decision to grant citizenship to the three stateless children who were born in Malaysia,” Marianne Clark-Hattingh, Unicef representative to Malaysia, said in a statement.

She urged Putrajaya to be similarly courteous in the treatment of other such cases. “We need to remember the countless other stateless children who are still deprived of education, healthcare, and other social services,” she said.

The Unicef representative added that children were not responsible for their condition, and therefore, shouldn’t suffer for their parents’ fault.

“All children are born equal with the same rights, and expectation of a bright future,” the statement read.

Earlier in the day, it was revealed that Putrajaya had decided to grant citizenship to three children whose appeals were pending before a nine-member Federal Court bench.

Later, the appellants withdrew their appeals before the bench chaired by Ahmad Maarop, following the decision of Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Lawyer Cyrus Das, appearing for two of the appellants, said they were informed of the decision by the home ministry to grant citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution. - FMT