Two more mothers win citizenship for overseas-born children

Two more Malaysian mothers involved in a landmark court decision have gained citizenship for their overseas-born children, according to the advocacy group Family Frontiers.

However, this still leaves one of six mothers involved in the case whose children have not been granted Malaysian citizenship despite a court order last year.

“This delay is unjustified. It has been four months since the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the government’s application to stay the High Court judgement pending appeal.

“However, the government has yet to produce a clear and consistent guideline to process Malaysian mothers’ documents via Article 14(1)(b) and has not adequately prepared the National Registration Department (NRD) branches and Malaysian missions overseas.

“This is despite the court order stating that women should undergo the same registration process as men for their overseas-born children,” it said in a statement today.

It urged the government to issue citizenship-related documents to all children born to Malaysian mothers overseas without any further delay, and the Home Ministry should issue clear instructions to NRD branches and Malaysian missions so they would apply the same procedures to Malaysian mothers as those for men.

Based on feedback from Malaysian women applying for citizenship documents for their overseas-born children, it claimed that Malaysian men enjoy an immediate and straightforward process, whereas Malaysian women were told to provide additional documents, and the process will take “indefinite time”.

“Each day the government delays the implementation of the High Court judgment is another day the government puts its women through unwarranted fear and anxiety, including being forced to remain in toxic marriages overseas without support.

“Until the government defends the status quo, children of Malaysian women will continue to be denied equal access to basic rights such as affordable healthcare, education and the right to remain in the country with their family,” it said.

Government appealing to overturn decision

On Sept 9 last year, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that children born to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers are entitled to be automatically granted citizenship, just as children born to Malaysian men.

The Malaysian government is appealing to overturn the decision, but both the High Court and the Court of Appeal refused to put a stay of execution on the ruling pending the outcome of the appeal.

A hearing is scheduled to take place in June.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the former Malaysian junior squash champion Choong Wai Li and her husband Ronan Collins said garnering Malaysian citizenship for their Hong Kong-based son meant the world to them.

“He is a very proud Malaysian, loves living in Kuala Lumpur and sees Malaysia as his home. Receiving his citizenship means the world to all of us.

“In the years to come, when he finds his passion in life, we are excited that he can represent Malaysia in sports or other endeavours,” they said yesterday. - Mkini

Choong Wai Li and her son with the boy’s citizenship papers