KUALA LUMPUR: Proposals pertaining to the Federal Constitution amendments on the citizenship issues involving children born overseas to Malaysian mothers will be presented to the Malay Rulers Council.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said the government is preparing the document on the proposals which would be presented after the six state polls in August.
"The government takes note of all views, suggestions and feedback by various parties, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) relating to eight proposed amendments.
"The proposed amendments include the entire Part III, together with the First and Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution which also covers the citizenship issues involving children born overseas to Malaysian mothers.
"Any proposal on Part III of the constitution relating to citizenship issues must be approved by the Malay Rulers Council, in line with the provision of Article 159(5) of the Constitution," she said in a statement, today.
Azalina added that the proposed amendment to Part III would also need the agreement of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 161E(2)(a) of the Constitution.
"However, the government guarantees protection of the interests of women as well as that of Malaysian mothers and their children.
"The amendment will give gender equality opportunities for Malaysians to obtain citizenship for their children born overseas under the Constitution."
On Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would be tabling the amendments during the next parliamentary sitting in September.
While the announcement was generally welcomed, several NGOs, including Family Frontiers, had voiced concerns over certain rights that would be removed if the amendments go through.
This includes the proposal to remove Section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule and amendment of Section 19(B) of Part III of the Second Schedule, where such amendments will remove existing safeguards for stateless children, especially abandoned children and foundlings.
The organisations also highlighted that the proposed amendment concerning the citizenship of non-citizen wives of Malaysian men under Article 15(1) was unclear in ensuring fairness and protecting foreign spouses and their families.