PETALING JAYA: The Parliamentary Particular Select Committee upon women, children matters and social growth is keen to file a Private Member’s Bill for a constitutional variation allowing overseas-born kids to be granted nationality through their Malaysian mothers.
The committee’s chairman Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who is Pengerang MP, however mentioned without an independent, unbiased, and well-supported Parliament, she is doubtful of the opportunity for the expenses to be tabled in Parliament ‘to view the light of day’.
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“Members of Parliament, we all reached a historic unanimous vote for a constitutional amendment to aid the passing of the anti-party hopping regulation.
“If and when a bill is presented to us to create a minor amendment to the constitution to allow for both fathers and moms to confer citizenship to their children, I trust that we may unanimously agree to do the same.
“Just as party jumping is unjust plus unethical, so is causing thousands of children stateless and in limbo, ” she said inside a statement.
Azalina added that 1 ) 86 million Malaysian women are living overseas, citing reasons for nationality issues as one of the major factors deterring their own return to Malaysia.
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“This figure represents 12% of the total feminine population of 15. 6 million within Malaysia.
“This makes Malaysia the country with the second highest regional rate of women migrating with 57%, second only to Thailand, and above the global average of 48%, ” she said.
A Private Member’s Bill is a costs (proposed law) submitted by MPs that are not from the professional branch of the authorities.
She more explained that the problem of citizenship is not really a mere issue of gender inequality.
“Sexist nationality laws lead to other human being rights violations.
“Women and kids have been reportedly stuck in abusive marriages when their or even their children’s citizenship is dependent on their spouse.
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“Such laws and regulations also make it difficult for a mother in order to claim child custody or gain access to her kids if her marriage ends in separation or even divorce.
“Underage girls are at better risk of pushed marriages as families may view this particular as a way to gain legal status.
“Such laws separate family members and impose limitations on freedom associated with movement, which has been frequently reported, especially throughout the Covid-19 pandemic traveling restrictions, ” the girl said.
In September last year, the High Court ruled that Malaysian women possess the same right as Malaysian men to confer automatic citizenship on their overseas-born kids.
The decision was, however , overturned with the Court of Appeal on Aug 5.
In a vast majority ruling, the courtroom held that the constitutional provision referred to the particular biological father and could not be extended to include the mother or mom and dad.
It was up to Parliament, not the particular court, to reword the constitution, the particular judges said.