Don’t horse-trade vulnerable children’s rights

Littlest citizen? An infant left in one of the baby hatches set up around the country to stop baby dumping. Amendments to citizenship law could strip away citizenship rights from foundlings like this, as well as orphans, children born out of wedlock, and adopted children. — Filepic/The Star

A YEAR ago, civil society groups rallied behind Malaysia’s unity government as it unveiled plans to amend the Federal Constitution to grant Malaysian mothers the right to confer citizenship upon their children born overseas – a privilege previously reserved solely for Malaysian fathers.

Since then, significant developments have unfolded, culminating in the introduction of a “comprehensive” citizenship amendment package by the government.