IPOH: All Members of Parliament should vote in favour of amending the Federal Constitution to allow children born to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers to be Malaysian citizens, urges Nga Kor Ming.
The Housing and Local Government Minister said that although the amendment would only require a two-thirds majority or 148 votes, he hoped that all 222 MPs would vote for it.
He said the proposed constitutional amendment is expected to be tabled and read for the first time at the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 25).
"The matter will then be debated and voted on Wednesday (March 27).
"Let's uphold justice for stateless children, especially those born to Malaysian mothers, even if their children are born overseas," he said after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall building here on Saturday (March 23).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said last week that the government will guarantee the citizenship rights of children born abroad to Malaysian women and non-Malaysian fathers.
He said amendments to Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, which deals with citizenship, would be brought to Parliament this month.
The amendment aims to replace the word "father" with "parents" or "mother" after years of campaigning by affected Malaysian mothers, including advocacy group Family Frontiers.
Nga said if the amendment is passed, it will resolve about 2,000 cases.
"It will no longer be an issue for Family Frontiers. It will be a welcome move to promote gender equality," he said.
