PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian mothers married to foreign men can soon breathe a sigh of relief as the process to grant automatic Malaysian citizenship to their children born abroad is actively underway, with plans to implement it by middle of next year.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic) said this includes preparing new registration forms, updating systems and informing all Malaysian diplomatic missions worldwide.
He said the Attorney General’s Chambers is in the final stages of reviewing amendments to Acts, regulations and related processes following Parliament’s approval of a constitutional amendment last year.
“The review will also involve amendments to the Nationality Regulations 1964 and the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957,” he told Bernama.
Once the review is complete, the amendments will ensure children of Malaysian mothers married to foreigners and born abroad will automatically be granted Malaysian citizenship.
“When this amendment takes effect, Malaysian mothers married to foreign men and residing abroad will be able to register their children’s births at the embassy, and the birth certificates issued will confirm their status as Malaysian citizens,” he said.
On Oct 17 last year, the Dewan Rakyat made history by passing the Constitution Amendment Bill 2024 on citizenship with a two-thirds majority.
The amendment, among other changes, ensures children born abroad to Malaysian mothers married to foreign men will now automatically acquire Malaysian citizenship, a right previously granted only if the father was a Malaysian citizen.
This amendment was introduced to strengthen the principles of justice, equality and transparency in granting citizenship, in line with the nation’s current realities and aspirations.
Saifuddin Nasution highlighted that the amendment marks a significant step towards ensuring fairness for Malaysian women married to foreign men and giving birth abroad, in line with the equality principle enshrined in the Constitution.
He also emphasised that this effort is part of the government’s commitment to clear the backlog of citizenship applications, which had previously exceeded 50,000 cases.
“Out of the more than 50,000 backlogged cases, only around 6,000 remain under review.
“Although the remaining number is small, the impact on the lives of citizens is significant.
“This accomplishment gives me great satisfaction because we know we are doing the right thing,” he said.
