Azalina hints positive outlook on equal citizenship rights for children born abroad to M'sian mothers
SYDI ALIF28 Dec 2022 04:45pm
Azalina's tweet
In a tweet posted she shared a recent meeting between the Legal Affairs Division and Family Frontiers, a local rights group.
“The Legal Affairs Division had a fruitful discussion with Family Frontiers on equal citizenship rights for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers.
“We will continue to have meaningful engagement with various parties on legal reform. Hoping for an exciting 2023!” she noted.
Family Frontiers is a local NGO that aims to advance and strengthen family unity and development so that no family is left behind.
The tweet to which the Pengerang MP attached a picture of the discussion parties gained numerous reactions.
A user commented, "That's fantastic, but foundlings also need citizenship and protection too.
"No docs, no parents and no identity. I have an 11-day old baby, abandoned." Tini shared her concern.
She further expressed herself, "My heart aches for him. If I can't find suitable parents, who will help file his citizenship papers?"
Another response read, "Please do what is morally right.
"Laws are supposed to be for the good and betterment of its citizens. The people find it ridiculous to grant easy citizenship to foreign footballers, but not children of Malaysian!" Chin Hing wrote.
Article 14(1)(b) of Malaysia’s constitution gives fathers the automatic right to confer citizenship on their children born abroad – but omits any mention of mothers.
In December 2020, Family Frontiers and six other Malaysian mothers with non-Malaysian spouses and children challenged the constitutionality of the clause in the courts, asking that judges interpret it in line with the principle of gender equality.
