Malaysian mums go to court to challenge sexist nationality laws

Suri (left) with four of the six co-plaintiffs who hope to give Malaysian mothers equal rights as Malaysian fathers when it comes to the citienzenship of their children. Photo: Family Frontiers

Frustrated and distressed at the uncertainty of their children’s citizenship status, six Malaysian mothers are seeking to challenge provisions in the Malaysian constitution that, they say, prevent them from passing on their nationality to their offspring because they are women.

Under our law, a Malaysian mother with a foreign spouse cannot automatically pass on her citizenship to her children born outside Malaysia. She has to apply for the child’s citizenship, and reapply if the application is unsuccessful.