MP questions proposed citizenship law changes

A FORMER deputy minister questioned whether the proposed amendments to the citizenship law were due to the high number of abandoned children in Sarawak and Sabah.

Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor), the former de facto law minister, urged the government not to go ahead with proposed constitutional amendments that would deprive these children the automatic right to apply for citizenship.

“National security was also raised as a justification for the proposed amendments,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address.

“Has the government carried out an appropriate study to determine if the amendments would overcome the problem of foundlings in both states?” he said.

Last November, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail faced pushback when announcing the proposed amendments.

Although the amendments would resolve the issue of citizenship regarding children born by Malaysian mothers abroad, civil rights groups noted that the changes would create a larger class of stateless children.

The proposed amendments will make it a requirement that there is proof the foundlings were born in Malaysia before a citizenship application can be submitted.

Ramkarpal described the proposed amendments as “regressive and illogical”.