Ahead of upcoming debates on the citizenship amendment bill, a Sabah Muda member has urged lawmakers from the state to take a stand and not be like a "bull being led by the horn".
Wong Kueng Hui, a former stateless individual, specifically cited a proposed amendment to require children born in Malaysia to non-Malaysian parents who are permanent residents to apply for citizenship instead of giving them automatic citizenship.
"One of the most worrying proposed amendments for Sabahan is the one on permanent residents. The issue is unique in Sabah; many among the Kadazan, Murut, and Rungus ethnic groups still hold red IC (permanent resident) status, and they were born in Malaysia.
"If this amendment bill is passed, their children will not be allowed to inherit citizenship," Wong (above, centre) told a press conference in Parliament.
"In my view, it is completely illogical for them to remain as permanent residents, when they should be Malaysian citizens, and that is also why this amendment is highly regressive," he stressed.
In September, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor announced that the state government will establish the Sabah Special Committee on Citizenship Status, as well as a special task force, with a focus on the issue of residents without identification documents.
Hajiji reportedly said the state cabinet gave the approvals for efforts to review, expedite, and assist with both new and pending applications for citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.
Wong argued that the specific amendment affecting permanent residents could be a stumbling block to the state government's efforts.
"So I urge all Sabah and Sarawak MPs, particularly from Sabah, to reject this amendment and don't be like a 'bull being led by the horn'.
"Sabah has our own voice, our own unique issue, and we do not want the Home Ministry to decide who can be a Sabahan or not. Who can be a Malaysian or not," he stressed.
Also present were Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, Muda member and stateless activist Rahayu Baharin, as well as former Muda president and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Affect on women
Amira, who is also Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson, reiterated Muda's support for elements of the proposed amendments, including granting Malaysian mothers with children born overseas to a foreign father the equal right to confer citizenship.
At the same time, she urged the government to refrain from using the Malaysian mothers as "hostages" in the negotiations on another amendment that could end up nullifying citizenship granted to foreign wives of Malaysian men if the women decide to leave a bad marriage.
"Muda urges the Home Ministry, the prime minister to relook this amendment said to prevent 'contract marriages'," said Amira, who dismissed the argument as "illogical".
The amendment seeks to amend a wording in Article 26 in Part II of the Federal Constitution, replacing “date of marriage” with “date of obtaining citizenship”.
She reiterated concerns that the amendment would put foreign wives who manage to obtain Malaysian citizenship at risk of having it revoked if the marriage is dissolved within two years of being granted the status.
Overall, Syed Saddiq reminded the government that one good move should not open doors for three or four other negative impacts.
He added the entire constitutional amendment bill should be referred to a parliamentary select committee for further refinements.
Last week, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, at a media briefing ahead of Dewan Rakyat debates on the amendments, said the Federal Constitution has a provision that protects foreign wives from becoming stateless.
He had also expressed his disappointment over “sweeping statements” branding the government’s citizenship amendment proposal as evil and cruel.
The amendment bill was tabled to the Dewan Rakyat in March but will only be debated in the Parliament sitting that begins today. - Mkini
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