BATU PAHAT: The government is in the final phase of deciding when to implement automatic citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers married to foreign nationals, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said they are now awaiting the final processes before the constitutional amendment comes into force.
“At my ministry, all preparations have been completed, including preparations involving our representatives overseas and the necessary forms,” he said after an engagement session with students at Pusat Latihan Teknologi Tinggi Batu Pahat yesterday.
He said prior to the amendment, such children were required to apply for Malaysian citizenship through registration.
He said the amendment would have a significant impact on Malaysian mothers, as their children would automatically acquire citizenship by operation of law once the amendment takes effect.
“They will no longer have to fight in court or apply for their children to obtain citizenship,” he said.
On Oct 17, 2024, 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 that children born abroad to Malaysian mothers married to foreign men will now automatically acquire Malaysian citizenship, a right that was previously only granted if the father was a Malaysian citizen.
On a separate matter, Saifuddin Nasution said his ministry would facilitate border crossing for outstation voters, particularly Johoreans working in Singapore, to return home and cast their ballots in the upcoming state election.
“However, the measures to be implemented will depend on the key election dates to be announced by the Election Commission following its meeting this Friday.
“The Home Ministry, especially the Immigration Department and related agencies, will respond based on that announcement,” he said, referring to the nomination and polling dates.
He said the choice of polling day would have different implications for cross-border travel between Johor and Singapore, and that his ministry would do its utmost to ease the voting process for Johoreans.
Asked about PAS’s break-up with Bersatu, he said parties that work with PAS will inevitably end in divorce.
“The decision by PAS’ central committee is nothing new if we look at the party’s political journey.
“Whoever joins forces with them ends up in a divorce. The only question is whether it is talak satu, talak dua or talak tiga.
“We have seen it with Semangat 46, with its own coalition partners, then with Umno through Muafakat Nasional and now with Bersatu. The question is, who will be next?” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution, who is also PKR vice-president, said PAS had also misused the theme of penyatuan ummah (Muslim unity), as the party had ended more political partnerships than it had sustained.
“The principles of political Islam are to uphold justice, promote good, prevent wrongdoing, encourage kindness and foster compassion and unity,” he said.
“You cannot claim that when you were friends, the basis was Muslim unity and when you divorce, the basis is still Muslim unity. You cannot interpret it based on your own preferences.”
Asked if the break-up would be an advantage to Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming Johor polls, he said that Pakatan would not become stronger simply because its political rivals were experiencing internal divisions.
Instead, he said Pakatan’s strength would continue to depend on hard work and cooperation among its component parties.
