KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the decision to amend citizenship laws is to prevent abuse by foreigners.
He said there were cases where foreign couples abandoned newborn babies at government hospitals and baby hatches.
"These foreigners and their foreign partners, both of whom are clearly not citizens, would give birth in hospitals, and then they walk out without paying the bills.
"The unpaid hospital bills of these foreigners amount to hundreds of millions of ringgit. We have the figures.
"They just leave the child behind because they know under Section 19B (of Part III of Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution), if the child is born here, the child can automatically get citizenship.
"This did not happen back in 1963. Now, with 3.5 million foreigners, they are altering the landscape in terms of our country's composition," he said when winding up his ministry's debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address.
Saifuddin reiterated that the proposed amendments were aimed at future preparation.
"I repeat once again, this proposal reflects the presentation of a Madani government, far from the allegation of being cruel or unjust.
"It is not about closing doors, as claimed, but rather about demonstrating our commitment.
"This amendment is also to avoid granting citizenship to those who are not eligible. There must be a degree of control... that is the real purpose behind this proposal," he said.
On Friday, Saifuddin had said the cabinet had given the green light for the proposed amendments to the constitution over citizenship to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.