NGO Mandiri Borneo urged Sarawak and Sabah MPs to vote against a controversial citizenship bill in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting.
“We urge all Sarawak and Sabah lawmakers, and all Malaysians, to reject this cruel and inhumane bill,” said its director Wong Kueng Hui in a statement today.
Critics have argued that the bill would restrict the right of foundlings to citizenship. A foundling is defined as a “newborn child found exposed in any place”.
The bill was also said to deny children of “permanent residents” automatic citizenship.
Other controversial amendments include one to shorten the window for stateless Malaysians to register for citizenship from 21 years to 18 years.
Another amendment could end up nullifying citizenship granted to foreign wives of Malaysian men if the women decide to leave a bad marriage.
On May 27, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail tabled the second reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024. The first reading was done in March.
However, Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul adjourned the session before the debate could take place.
On July 28, Saifuddin confirmed the bill would be debated in the Dewan Rakyat this month.
Affecting rural dwellers
Elaborating, Wong decried the proposal to deny automatic citizenship to children of permanent residents, which may exacerbate the stateless problem in Sabah.
“Sabahan natives, especially those living in rural areas and those born of mixed marriages, would be affected by this proposed bill,” he said.
He added that even Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Kitingan voiced concerns over the proposal, which may affect rural Sabahans as they lack access to basic amenities, increasing the risk of causing children born to rural Sabahans to become stateless.
“However, Saifuddin seems to be ignoring the deputy chief minister’s concerns,” Wong alleged.
On Oct 7, Suhakam also raised concerns over the proposed amendments to the citizenship law.
The human rights body said the government should work to enhance the right to citizenship, rather than remove or dilute it. - Mkini
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