Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has rejected 17 MPs in each of their bids to file a private member’s bill to Parliament for a constitutional amendment allowing citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers.
In a media statement today, Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said, who is also chair of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee for Women and Children Affairs and Social Development, said the committee was willing to bring this matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
She explained that she was among the 17 MPs who were rejected.
Azalina explained that her proposal was to include the word “mother” in Section 1(b) of Part 2 Schedule 2 of the Federal Constitution but was rejected on grounds that amendments to provisions under Part III of the Federal Constitution cannot be passed without the consent of the Conference of Rulers.
“It is my sincere hope that the government of the day prioritises measures that can be taken to allow citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers as is their birthright,” she stated.
‘Morally untenable’
Azalina said she and each of the 16 MPs received a response from Azhar notifying rejection of their proposals and they include Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Hulu Langat MP Hasanuddin Yunus and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
“It was morally untenable to leave thousands of children born to Malaysian mothers stateless.
“It is outright discriminatory to women and we must act in the best interest of our children and the rights of Malaysian mothers, and we must act now.
Other MPs whose bids were rejected are Lanang MP Alice Lau, Pandan MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, Lumut MP Mohd Hatta Ramli, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Bukit Mertajam MP Sim Chee Keong and Wangsa Maju MP Tan Yee Kew. - Mkini
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