KUALA LUMPUR: The present government had an "easy job" in granting citizenship greenlight for overseas-born children of Malaysian women, an opposition lawmaker said.
Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Perikatan Nasional-Masjid Tanah) alluded that it was the previous administration that did all the hard work, including the research and communications to the Palace.
"Well done and congratulations to all fighters, activists, non-governmental organisations and Family Frontiers who have, for a long time, championed the rights of (Malaysian) mothers.
"When I was the deputy law minister, I had the opportunity to (help activists) meet with the former law minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who also expressed commitment (to resolve the issue).
"The government today only needed to make the decision, all the hard work has been done for them...… don't they have an easy job, just making a decision?' she said when debating the Royal Address in Dewan Rakyat today.
Mas Ermieyati said she was one of the petitioners asking for equal rights for Malaysian women, adding that other former ministers were also involved in the whole process.
This includeed former foreign minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota), former home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut), and former defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
"There cannot be discrimination. The Federal Constitution must be amended, and the relevant laws must be improved.
"If we didn't agree (to this initiative) we would not have included it in the PN manifesto," she added.
In a joint statement on Feb 17, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the cabinet had agreed to amend the Federal Constitution, allowing children born to Malaysian mothers overseas to obtain Malaysian citizenship automatically.
They said the proposed amendment was expected to be tabled during the current session of the Dewan Rakyat, after completing all legal procedures.
Currently, the Federal Constitution only recognises citizenship through fathers.
This meant that children born to Malaysian mothers outside of the country could not obtain Malaysian citizenship automatically.