KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Citizenship Rights Alliance (MCRA) has restated its call for the government to decouple proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution concerning citizenship matters.
In a statement issued today (March 8), the group said the government must cease treating children's rights as negotiable and instead swiftly proceed with the amendment granting Malaysian mothers the right to confer citizenship upon their overseas-born children.
They also urged the government to drop the five regressive amendments that endanger the welfare of vulnerable children.
"Gender equality cannot be achieved by granting rights with one hand while simultaneously stripping away citizenship rights of vulnerable children with the other.
"Impacted mothers, activists, and civil society advocates stand united in firmly reminding the government to act with responsibility, compassion, clarity and sincerity and to refrain from politicising the fundamental right to citizenship.
"On this International Women's Day, we place our trust in our elected representatives to effectively articulate our concerns and take the necessary actions to safeguard women's and children's rights enshrined in the constitution," the statement read.
Previously, it was reported that the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution on citizenship matters will be presented to the cabinet on March 8.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government would decide to proceed with it or further review it before the bill is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.
However, some non-governmental organisations have called for further study on the proposed amendments to the constitution. They said they appeared to be regressive by taking away what applicants and their children are entitled to under the present framework.
The proposed amendment will, among others, subject children 'found exposed in any place' and foundlings, including abandoned children, to discretionary citizenship and place the burden of proof on the child as to their parentage.
Currently, the Federal Constitution only recognises citizenship through fathers, meaning that children born to Malaysian mothers outside the country cannot automatically obtain Malaysian citizenship.
The group also criticised the government's move to couple a progressive amendment that grants Malaysian mothers equal citizenship rights with five regressive amendments.
"Despite relentless efforts and pleas urging the government to reconsider and halt the tabling of these regressive amendments, our appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
"Malaysian mothers have fought long and hard for the futures of their children, and this will only threaten the safety and security of other vulnerable children is a betrayal of everything Malaysian mothers have been fighting for.