Defer ‘regressive’ constitutional amendments on citizenship, urges NGO

KUCHING: Certain amendments to the Federal Constitution over citizenship issues should be deferred for further review, says the Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS).

It was labelled as "regressive" with certain elements like lowering the age limit for citizenship applications from 21 to 18 and removing the right to Malaysian citizenship for children born to permanent residents in Malaysia.

SWWS said the amendment would affect children born to Sarawak and Sabah natives who have red identity cards (indicating permanent resident status) for various reasons, such as being unable to provide the details of their birth.

"If the proposed amendments are passed, many more children will find their life chances blocked as they will join the long waiting list for their applications for citizenship to be considered – a process which is complicated, non-transparent and notoriously long.

"If the changes go through, these children will now have difficulty receiving healthcare, attending school and when of age, finding employment," SWWS said in a statement on Monday (March 25).

The NGO called on Sarawak MPs to request these amendments to be removed from the amendment Bill to allow more time for research and consideration.

It said MPs should only pass the amendment which gives Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses the automatic right to confer their citizenship on overseas-born children.

"This was the issue which required a change to the Constitution to ensure gender equality was not compromised.

"The other amendments have all been add-ons whose adverse impacts have not been fully considered," SWWS added.

The Bill to amend the Federal Constitution on citizenship laws was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.