Ending gender bias in conferring citizenship

WE, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, applaud the landmark Sept 9 decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court that affirmed Malaysian women’s right to confer citizenship automatically on their children born overseas on an equal basis with Malaysian men.

The Court ruled that Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, together with the Second Schedule, Part II, Section 1(b) pertaining to citizenship rights, must be read in harmony with Article 8(2), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. High Court judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir ruled that the word “father” must therefore be read to include “mother” and that their children are entitled to citizenship by operation of law.