Minister 'punishing' children for marriage bureaucracy - LFL

 

Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has hit out at Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin (above) over the latter’s remarks seen to “punish” children for non-registration of their parents’ marriages.

LFL director Zaid Malek said Hamzah’s warning for parents to register their marriage, or risk their children being stateless, is an attempt to shift the burden of ensuring that those entitled get their citizenship to the public.

“Essentially, the home minister is punishing innocent children for a bureaucratic and red-tape problem like non-registration of marriages,” he said in a statement today.

“It is plainly unlawful and contrary to the constitution to deny citizenship to a child born to at least one parent who is a Malaysian simply because the marriage was not registered.

“Let us be clear about this. For every child who is entitled to citizenship but remains stateless, the fault lies upon the Home Ministry and not the parents,” he stressed.

Hamzah had reportedly made his remarks in Kemabong, Sabah, yesterday, noting how there are those living in rural areas who did not understand the importance of registering their marriage as a requirement to apply for citizenship for their children.

Hamzah also said the Home Ministry would continue to intensify efforts to provide clarification over issues related to citizenship, including the importance of applying for identification documents, especially among the people in Sabah.

LFL director Zaid Malek

Zaid, however, urged the government to ease procedures around marriage registration with a proper and easily accessible guideline.

He said any problems arising should be treated as an easily rectified administrative problem rather than a hindrance for children to receiving citizenship.

“We urge the home minister to look at the standard operating procedures and guidelines in the National Registration Department.

“Ensure that they comply with the (federal) constitution and abide with the latest court decisions on issues of citizenship, not just irresponsibly pass the buck to the public,” said Zaid.

Zaid pointed out the government has a duty to ensure that every qualified person is registered as a citizen and given the necessary identification papers through resources funded by public taxes.

Further, he said marriage registration issues should never be the reason to deprive a child of citizenship as they will be barred from access to healthcare, education, and, later on, employment opportunities.

“Aside from the human suffering endured by the stateless, it also deprives the country of a huge section of citizens who could contribute to the economy and nation-building.

“Instead, they are relegated to the fringes of society. Hamzah and the Home Ministry’s approach now perpetuates and worsens the problem,” he said. - Mkini