JOINT STATEMENT: Halt regressive amendments; proceed with amendments granting Malaysian mothers equal citizenship rights

Wong Yew Lee
Written by Wong Yew Lee on
JOINT STATEMENT: Halt regressive amendments; proceed with amendments granting Malaysian mothers equal citizenship rights

Joint Statement:Halt regressive amendments; proceed with amendments granting Malaysian mothers equal citizenship rights

9 October 2024 - We, civil society organisations (CSOs), activists, subject experts and impacted individuals, express our grave concern over the upcoming Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 – specifically the provisions relating to citizenship – that is set to be debated in Parliament. With just four days remaining before the Dewan Rakyat meeting begins, we have yet to receive any updates or refinements to the Bill as announced by the Home Minister in July 2024. This lack of transparency and communication is deeply troubling and contrary to the Madani government’s promise of a more inclusive and transparent democracy.

We have previously highlighted that the Bill, in its current form, contains critical flaws that, if not addressed, will have far-reaching consequences for vulnerable communities across Malaysia, not least the indigenous communities of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. The Minister must transparently disclose full details of how he intends to address these critical flaws, including the exact refinements to the Bill or any regulations to the Bill, and give all stakeholders sufficient time to study the Ministry’s proposed amendments. The bill should not move forward in its current form, as it combines several regressive amendments with a positive amendment addressing the rights of Malaysian mothers.

While the Bill contains a positive provision—allowing Malaysian mothers to automatically confer citizenship to their children born overseas—this is the only progressive amendment. However, this amendment does not have retroactive application, which means that current overseas-born children (including those over 21 years) of Malaysian mothers will continue to be discriminated against as they will still not have an automatic right to citizenship.

The Bill also includes 3 regressive constitutional amendments that will negatively impact the children of permanent residents (PR); citizenship applications of stateless children above the age of 18; and foreign spouses to Malaysian men.

To address the potential increase in statelessness caused by these amendments, we call for safeguards to be introduced in the Bill so that Constitutional guarantees which have existed since the formation of the Federation are not eroded.

We remind MPs that although points raised during parliamentary debates are recorded in the Hansard, they do not bind ministers or the government to specific policies or laws. Therefore, it is crucial that all safeguards are explicitly included in the Bill itself, ensuring no ambiguity or risk of future misinterpretation.

We note from SUHAKAM’s press statement that its views on the proposed amendments also seem to have been disregarded. The suggestion that even SUHAKAM’s concerns may have been discounted by this government is alarming, especially when the Ministry appears to have given assurances to the Council of Rulers that it would fine-tune the Bill with SUHAKAM.

This government must act in the best interests of its people. In so doing, this government must not assume that only it knows best. On matters involving fundamental rights and freedoms, all stakeholders must be meaningfully consulted. We call on the Home Minister to withdraw the amendments related to the denial of automatic citizenship to children of Malaysian permanent residents (section 1(a)) and ensure that the amendment for Malaysian mothers is made retroactive. Additionally, necessary safeguards must be included to protect those at risk of statelessness due to these constitutional changes.

All Ministers and MPs have been given copies of a matrix prepared by CSOs in consultation and collaboration with academics, legal experts and representatives from the different States, including Sabah and Sarawak, which provides a middle ground to address the government’s stated concerns on national security issues, while safeguarding the citizenship rights of those whose rights risk being abused by successive governments.

In light of the urgency and complexity of this issue, should the Bill continue to be tabled, we request that the government decouple the Bill and vote on its provisions in parts, ensuring that each section is thoroughly scrutinised. All safeguards should be fully discussed and risks presented transparently before any debate in Parliament takes place.

Endorsements:

Coalition/Networks:

  1. Malaysian Citizenship Rights Alliance (MCRA) - 20 CSOs
  2. National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC) (representing 23 member organisations)
  3. Gabungan NGO-NGO Masyarakat India (I25) 22 Member NGO

CSOs

  1. Aliran
  2. Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge (ANAK) Sabah
  3. Architects of Diversity
  4. Association of Toy Libraries Msia
  5. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
  6. Bait Al Amanah
  7. Barefoot Mercy
  8. Bersih
  9. Borneo Komrad
  10. Buku Jalanan Chow Kit
  11. Centre for Human Rights Research & Advocacy (CENTHRA)
  12. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
  13. Centre For Plantation Worker Studies (Cpws)
  14. Centre For Road Safety And Research Studies (Crsrs)
  15. Child Rights Information Centre (Chrince)
  16. Childline Foundation
  17. Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED).
  18. Consumer Education And Environment Studies Centre (Ceestc)
  19. CRIB Foundation
  20. Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation Malaysia (DAWN)
  21. Demokrat UKM
  22. Dewan Keusahawanan Malaysia India Bersatu
  23. DHRRA Malaysia
  24. EMPOWER
  25. END CSEC Network Malaysia
  26. Engage
  27. ERA Consumer Malaysia
  28. ENGENDER
  29. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA)
  30. Fourth Media
  31. G25
  32. Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia (GBSM)
  33. Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo
  34. Greenpeace Malaysia
  35. HaKita
  36. Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (HARAM)
  37. IIUM Student Union (IIUMSU)
  38. Institut Reformasi Politik dan Demokrasi (REFORM)
  39. Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)
  40. Johor Women’s League (JEWEL)
  41. Justice for Sisters
  42. Kelab Amal Prihatin Wanita Tapah
  43. Kemban Kolektif
  44. KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee
  45. KLSCAH Youth
  46. Lawyer Kamek, Sarawak
  47. Legal Dignity
  48. Make It Right Movement
  49. Malaysia Consumer Advisory Association (MCAA)
  50. Malaysia Stateless Alliance
  51. Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW)
  52. Malaysian Rare Disorder Society
  53. MANDIRI
  54. Nation Building School (NBS)
  55. North South Initiative
  56. Pahang State Indian Affairs Community Welfare Development association
  57. Persatuan Asia Tenggara Untuk Keselamatan Makanan Dan Perdagangan Adil Malaysia
  58. Persatuan Kebajikan dan Kepenggunaan Wanita Malaysia (PKKWM)
  59. Persatuan Kebajikan dan Pembangunan Pendidikan
  60. Persatuan Kebajikan Jejak Kasih Kuching (Barefoot Mercy)
  61. Persatuan Kebajikan Sokongan Selangor & KL (Family Frontiers)
  62. Persatuan Pelindung Alam Sekitar , Tenaga, Air Dan Sumber Alam Malaysia
  63. Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat (PPDM ROSE)
  64. Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat (PPSM ROSE)
  65. Persatuan Pembangunan Akademik dan Sahsiah Murid India.
  66. Persatuan Pendidikan D’Wira Kuching
  67. Persatuan Pengguna Klang
  68. Persatuan Pengundi Muda (UNDI18)
  69. Pertubuhan Belia Hindu Pelabuhan Klang
  70. Pertubuhan Belia Wawasan India Hulu Selangor
  71. Pertubuhan Generasi Rakan Komuniti Hulu Selangor
  72. Pertubuhan Kesejahteran Dan Aspirasi Rakyat Malaysia
  73. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Dan Kemajuan Sekolah Tamil Malaysia (PPST)
  74. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Generasi Hulu Selangor
  75. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan Dan Membela Insan Insan Malaysia
  76. Pertubuhan Titian Digital Malaysia (PTDM)
  77. Project Stability and Accountability in Malaysia (Projek SAMA)
  78. Protect and Save the Children Malaysia
  79. PT Foundation
  80. PurpleLily Social Association Kuching
  81. Pusat KOMAS
  82. Rural Consumer Organization Malaysia
  83. Sabah AIDS Support Services Association (KASIH)
  84. Sabah Human Rights Centre (SHRC)
  85. Sarawak OKU Skills Development Association (SOSDA)
  86. Sarawak Women for Women Society
  87. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  88. SEED Malaysia
  89. Selangor & KL Hokkien Association Youth
  90. Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Consumer Association
  91. Selangor Consumer Welfare Association (SCWA)
  92. Sisters in Islam
  93. Society for Equality, Respect and Trust for All Sabah (SERATA)
  94. Society for Promotion of Human Rights (PROHAM)
  95. Stateless Malaysians Citizenship Movement (SMCM)
  96. Stateless.MY
  97. Suara Siswa UiTM
  98. Sustainable Development Network (SDN)
  99. Tamil Learning And Information Centre (Tlic)
  100. TEROKA
  101. The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center)
  102. The Management Institute For Social Change (MINSOC)
  103. The OKU Rights Matter Project
  104. The Rise Malaysia
  105. Trades Union Resource Centre (Turc)
  106. UM Feminism Club
  107. Voice of the Children (VoC)
  108. Voice of Youtharian (VOY)
  109. Women’s Aid Organisation
  110. Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
  111. World Health Relief Fund (WHRF)
  112. Yayasan Chow Kit

Individuals/

  1. Adrian Pereira
  2. Afrina Adzhar
  3. Alica Albert
  4. Aliff Luqman Nasution bin Abdul Hamid
  5. Andrew Khoo
  6. Ariah Wani Binti Karim
  7. Baskaran Irasan
  8. Beverly Joeman
  9. Brenda Rachel Lee
  10. Chan See Yan
  11. Chen Ket Chuin @ KC
  12. Chuah Ee Chia
  13. Cikgu Rahayu
  14. Cristin Liauw
  15. Dato S.Saravanan
  16. Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan
  17. Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
  18. Davadass Anjan
  19. Dr Anthony Chong
  20. Dr Kanul Gindol
  21. Dr Lyana Khairuddin
  22. Dr Leong Han Ming (Daniel)
  23. Dr Wong Chin Huat
  24. Dr. Vizla Kumaresan
  25. Elise Ho
  26. Fan Siew Lee
  27. Faridah Abdullah
  28. Hamizah binti Shamsudeen
  29. Rose Ismail
  30. Heah Tze Ling
  31. Hindu Saiva Sangam
  32. Ineza Roussille
  33. Jane Kasim
  34. Jasmine Wong Kah Man
  35. Jayanath Appudurai
  36. Jeannie Low
  37. Jeyakumar Varatharajoo
  38. JoeAnn
  39. Joelin Lim Ai Ling
  40. Jr Thaddeus Jack Kinabalu Thaddeus
  41. Karunaneethi Thangavel
  42. Kelvin Lee Chi Kah
  43. Kunjari Sambatham
  44. Larissa Ann Louis
  45. Lawrence Lim
  46. Lee Cheah Cherng
  47. Lee Seng Loong
  48. Low Huiyi
  49. Low Ying Chai
  50. Lynnefra Y
  51. Maha Balakrishnan
  52. Malisse Tan
  53. Marina Mahathir
  54. Megan Steven
  55. Mohd Nasir Bin Mohd A
  56. Neduncheliyan Adaikalam
  57. Ngeow Chow Ying
  58. Novinthen Krishnan
  59. Nurul Akashah
  60. Nurul Rafeeqa Afdul Mutolip
  61. Ooi Eng Fong
  62. Prakash Nagasvara Ravo
  63. Ranee Sreedharan
  64. Ravi Muniandy
  65. Ray Teoh
  66. Roselizaman
  67. Rosita Mohd Hussain
  68. Sathia Seelan Arumugam
  69. Sharene Kam
  70. Sharmela
  71. Sherzali Herza Asli
  72. Simraatraj Kaur
  73. Tan Kim Hwa
  74. Tay Chia Yi
  75. Thilaga Sulathireh
  76. Thomas Fann
  77. Zarul Afiq
  78. Timothy Tean Chong Chern
  79. Vanessa
  80. Wong Hui Min
  81. Wong Kueng Hui
  82. Wong Yew Lee
  83. Yap Swee Seng
  84. Zainah Anwar
Wong Yew Lee

Wong Yew Lee

Convenor of Stateless.my, stateless Malaysian. Stateless by paper, Malaysian by heart.