KOTA KINABALU: Many Sabahan MPs have yet to take a clear stance on the controversial citizenship amendment bills, set to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat later this month.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan revealed that the state Cabinet had discussed the issue and was pushing for Sabah to be excluded from the amendments to safeguard the state's interests.
“These amendments to the Federal Constitution are a double-edged sword. While they might bring some benefits, they could also harm us,” he said during a press conference on Friday (Oct 4).
Kitingan stressed that Sabah does not want the changes to negatively impact its population, particularly rural communities who already face statelessness due to lack of access to proper documentation.
He further noted that while the state sees merit in the amendments, it is also concerned that they could open doors for illegal immigrants.
“For now, our position is clear: if these amendments must proceed, they should only apply to Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
The silence from most Sabahan MPs on the issue remains notable, especially after 28 organisations and 38 activists urged them to oppose the proposed changes.
The groups argue that the amendments would worsen conditions for displaced natives and increase the stateless population in Sabah.
One of the key concerns is the proposal to remove automatic citizenship for children born to Malaysian permanent residents, which could further limit access to education, healthcare, and employment for stateless individuals, particularly those from rural and mixed-parentage communities.
The organisations also criticised the government for not consulting them, despite their extensive experience working with affected families.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024, first tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in March this year, includes provisions granting citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian women and lowering the age limit for citizenship applications by registration from 21 to 18.
A second reading is expected during this month’s parliamentary session.
In July, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail noted that while the bill received positive feedback from the Conference of Rulers, further refinements were still needed.
The proposed changes to the Constitution are primarily aimed at addressing the long-standing issue of statelessness in Sabah, a situation that has disproportionately affected indigenous and rural communities.
Statelessness has long been a challenge, particularly affecting children born without formal citizenship in the region.
The potential tightening of citizenship eligibility criteria, however, has sparked fears that it could further marginalise stateless people in the region.
