Women, Families and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri has expressed hope that the Home Ministry will address concerns raised by NGOs working on the citizenship issue of abandoned children.
She said this when announcing that the Home Ministry will hold a meeting with NGOs to discuss the ministry’s proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution, adding that NGOs had asked for her help on the matter.
“I spoke with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail this morning, and he was very responsive.
“I received a lot of responses from the NGOs, since my ministry is responsible for looking after the welfare of children, I was asked to help with this.
“We still have time… I hope there will be new developments through the meeting session. I want the best to protect these children, thanks to the home minister,” Nancy said, as quoted by Bernama.
She relayed this to reporters after launching the 2023 National Community-Based Rehabilitation conference in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan today.
Previously, advocates for citizenship law reforms urged for more transparency and inclusiveness in ongoing government efforts to amend Part II of the Federal Constitution as well as its related schedules.
The proposed amendments are to include the word "mother" in Sections (1)(b) and (1)(c) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution on ‘Citizenship by Operation of Law’.
While the government's efforts to address citizenship of children born abroad to Malaysian mothers were welcomed, they highlighted issues that it attempted to restrict citizenship rights for children born out of wedlock to Malaysian fathers; children adopted by Malaysian parent(s); foundling and abandoned children; undocumented children from generational undocumented families/communities.
According to an open letter endorsed by 49 organisations and 67 individuals, they claimed that they received mixed messages from the government about the scope of amendments they intended to propose, and whether the amendments extend to the disputed issues above.
Saifuddin previously said the government, through engagements with stakeholders, is in the final stages of preparing a proposal to amend the relevant provisions related to citizenship under the Federal Constitution.
He said up to eight proposals will be presented to the Conference of Rulers next month and targeted for tabling in the Dewan Rakyat in the last session of this year. - Mkini
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