Govt reiterates intention to amend constitution on child citizenship

 

Six mothers and representatives from the NGO Family Frontiers outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court, which ruled that Malaysian women are entitled to confer citizenship on their children born overseas to foreign fathers by operation of law.

PETALING JAYA: The home ministry has reiterated its intention to propose a constitutional amendment to allow Malaysian mothers to confer citizenship on their children born overseas to foreign fathers.

Currently, only Malaysian fathers have this right under the Federal Constitution, which has led to a number of court challenges.

Recently, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that mothers are entitled to confer citizenship by operation of law in all processes, but the decision has since been appealed by the government.

In a parliamentary written reply to Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said, the ministry said it still intends to get the proposal approved by the Conference of Rulers before the constitutional amendment is tabled.

“The ministry intends to amend the constitution to allow the acquisition of Malaysian citizenship for individuals under 21 years of age born abroad to Malaysian mothers who are married to non-citizen fathers,” it said.

Second chance for drug addicts and abusers

In a separate reply to Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, the ministry said it is preparing a bill to replace the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983,

“This bill aims to increase access to drug and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation and provide a second chance to addicts and abusers,” it said

Currently, drug addicts prosecuted under the Act are subject to two years of compulsory treatment, which some have likened to incarceration. - FMT