The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has reiterated its concerns and objections to the proposed series of amendments to the citizenship provisions of the Federal Constitution.
The commission, in a statement today, particularly referred to five proposed amendments that will affect children born out of wedlock to Malaysian men, stateless children adopted by Malaysian parents, and foundlings.
“Our concerns revolve around the fact that such significant issues of citizenship provisions and rights must be enshrined in the Constitution, and not left to the discretion of the minister.
“The major hurdle within the existing provisions is the bureaucracy and unresponsive attitude of the National Registration Department (NRD) towards applicants,” the commission said.
“There is already a significant trust deficit in the workings of the bureaucracy, and the thrust of the proposed amendments, which shifts constitutional rights to the discretion of civil servants, is highly unsatisfactory,” it added.
Regressive move
Suhakam was responding to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail saying that the cabinet has agreed to proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution related to citizenship.
Elaborating, Suhakam said the proposed amendments would exacerbate statelessness among children.
“The proposed amendment to Section 19B Part III of the Second Schedule, requiring any person to register foundlings within one year, is regressive for the innocent child as it deprives them of citizenship due to parental or other third-party neglect.
“Suhakam is appalled that despite strong objections, the cabinet seems to have agreed to all the proposed amendments,” it said, stressing that the proposals would aggravate the challenges faced by stateless individuals, and create generational issues of statelessness.
‘They ignore us’
Separately, former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan chimed in to lambast Putrajaya over the proposed amendments.
“I am truly reconsidering voting for Pakatan Harapan if these awful amendments that will worsen statelessness go through.
“They used civil society when they wanted power. Now they have power, they ignore us when we have genuine concerns. Come on DAP, step up,” she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Earlier this week, DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh told the Dewan Rakyat that the proposed amendments, especially regarding foundlings, should be postponed pending further study.
The Bukit Gelugor MP said if the proposal is approved, foundlings would be subjected to a “bureaucratic process that takes a lot of time” with no guarantee they would be granted citizenship. - Mkini
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