LFL slams Anwar's 'ignorance' on citizenship law amendments

 

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has slammed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's "ignorance" on the proposed constitutional amendments on citizenship.

The human rights NGO's director Zaid Malek today likened the premier's comment akin to the "proverbial ostrich sticking its head in the ground."

"He appears to have no inkling as to the gravity and the impact of the proposed amendments on the stateless, and this is baffling and unacceptable coming from the prime minister.

"Was Anwar not briefed on the issue by his officers or is he side-stepping the issue?" Zaid asked in a statement today.

He was responding to Anwar's remark yesterday that there should be no controversy with the proposed constitutional amendments to citizenship laws.

This pertains to the proposed removal of Section 1(e) under Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution.

This provision grants citizenship by operation of law to persons born on or after Malaysia Day “within the Federation who is not born a citizen of any country otherwise than by virtue of this paragraph”.

Civil societies have sounded the alarm over additional provisions in the amendments, saying it would jeopardise the lives and future of orphans, foundlings, and other stateless persons.

'Heartless and cruel'

Elaborating, Zaid said the proposed amendments are "heartless and cruel" and will result in a huge increase in statelessness.

"Any reasonable person can see why the amendments are bad for the country, and much public criticism has been made in the past weeks by numerous stakeholders, including Suhakam, a statutory body that advises the government on human rights.

"But the home minister has maintained a deafening silence, and now the prime minister feigns ignorance by alluding only to the amendments on children born overseas to Malaysian mothers.

“If you were to listen to Anwar, it would seem that this is the only amendment being proposed," said Zaid.

Zaid reminded that Anwar and his coalition Pakatan Harapan had repeatedly promised to solve the problem of statelessness in the country since their days in the opposition.

Now that they are in the government, Harapan must not abandon the promise now, he urged.

"To do so is to betray the mandate that they have been entrusted with by the people for change and reform.

"Anwar must withdraw parts of the Home Ministry’s amendments immediately and not preside over the creation of a large new class of stateless persons in Malaysia, which is what his government’s proposed amendments will certainly do.

"If the government proceeds with these amendments, Anwar will forfeit forever his claim to be progressive and a reformer." - Mkini