Malaysia among 25 countries that practise discriminatory citizenship laws

Malaysian mothers are campaigning for equal rights to confer citizenship on their children who were born overseas. — Filepic

Malaysia is one of only 25 countries in the world – and one in only four countries in Asia – that still practises discriminatory citizenship laws.

“In principle, Malaysia has committed to eliminate all laws that discriminate women and, by right, Article 8 of the constitution states that gender cannot be used as a basis for discrimination,” says women’s rights activist Ivy Josiah who is the advisor to the Malaysian Campaign for Equal Citizenship led by the Foreign Spouses Support Group (FSSG).