PARLIAMENT | The present federal administration had an “easy job” granting Malaysian women married to foreigners the right to confer citizenship on their children born abroad, said a former deputy minister.
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Perikatan Nasional-Masjid Tanah) said the government only needed to approve a proposal to amend the Federal Constitution while the previous government, which she was a part of, conducted studies on the matter.
“The present government only needed to make the decision. What does that mean? They had the easy job to only make the decision,” she said.
In the Dewan Rakyat today, she congratulated rights group Family Frontiers for its success in pushing for the amendment.
She also noted how lobbying efforts and studies were conducted during her time as deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law).
“I had the opportunity to meet with them (Family Frontiers) when I was a deputy minister, and I brought them to meet the minister in charge, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
“The minister (in charge of Parliament and Law) expressed his commitment (to the amendment) and initial work was done, researches were done, and communications with the palace were also done,” said Mas Ermieyati in her debate of the royal address today.
Last August, Wan Junaidi said amending the Federal Constitution to provide citizenship to overseas-born children through their Malaysian mothers was beyond the powers of the government.
He said a constitutional amendment would need the involvement of the Conference of Rulers, and that the government at the time would only decide on its next course of action once a Federal Court ruling is made on the matter.
While reiterating her support for the amendment, Mas Ermieyati noted that the current government should wait for the Federal Court’s upcoming decision on automatic citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers, as it will shed light on any potential legal limitations.
“Similarly for matters that involve consent from the Rulers Council.
“This is to avoid any legal crisis surrounding double citizenship,” she said.
Additionally, she said the government should look into amendments to related laws, including the option to allow children born abroad to choose Malaysian citizenship at the age of 18. - Mkini
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