SEVENTEEN MPs failed in their bid to bring constitutional amendments to give citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers to the Dewan Rakyat.
Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun (pic) informed the MPs that their submission of the Private Member’s Bill was rejected, said Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said in a statement.
All 17 MPs received a response from the Speaker notifying them of the rejection.
She added that the rejection was on the grounds that amendments to provisions under Part III of the Federal Constitution cannot be passed without the consent of the Conference of Rulers.
“It is my sincere hope that the government of the day prioritises measures that can be taken to allow citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers as it is their birthright,” said Azalina, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women and Children Affairs and Social Development.
She added that the committee members have expressed willingness to bring this matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“We must act in the best interest of our children and the rights of Malaysian mothers, and we must act now,” she said.
Explaining her reason for submitting the motion, Azalina said it was outright discriminatory to women and morally untenable to leave thousands of children born to Malaysian mothers stateless and not knowing their fate.
The other MPs behind the Bill were Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (PH-Lanang), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan ISmail (PH-Pandan), Hannah Yeoh (PH-Segambut), Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh), Fuziah Salleh (PH-Kuantan), Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai), Hasanuddin Yunus (PH-Hulu Langat), Maria Chin Abdullah (PH-Petaling Jaya), Mohd Hatta Ramli (PH-Lumut), M. Kulasegaran (PH-Ipoh Barat), Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar), Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras), Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan), Steven Sim (PH-Bukit Mertajam) and Tan Yee Kew (PH-Wangsa Maju).
Azalina and the MPs had filed the motion to Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin on Sept 15.
The Bill seeks to amend Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution, Clause (1) (b), by inserting the words “or mother” after “father” and by adding the word “or mother” after “father” in Clause (1)(c).
