Don’t horse-trade vulnerable children’s rights
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.
To the dismay of many, this package now includes five regressive amendments that will strip away the citizenship rights of marginalised groups such as foundlings, orphans, children born out of wedlock, and adopted children.
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.
Civil society organisations have been met with dismissive responses, and instructed to accept the package of amendments, which propose to trade the rights of children born overseas to Malaysian mothers with existing citizenship rights for our most vulnerable children that are currently guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
Malaysian mothers have fought long and hard for the future of their children. Coupling a progressive amendment that grants Malaysian mothers equal citizenship rights with men with five regressive amendments that threaten the safety and security of other vulnerable children is a betrayal of everything Malaysian mothers have been fighting for.
We collectively reject the government’s attempt at horsetrading children’s rights. We stand resolute in our call for the government to decouple the amendments – proceed with the amendment that will grant Malaysian mothers the right to confer citizenship on their overseas-born children; and drop the five regressive amendments that threaten our nation’s vulnerable children.
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.
We now place our trust in our elected representatives to effectively articulate our concerns and take the necessary actions to safeguard women and children’s rights enshrined in the Constitution.
MALAYSIAN CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS ALLIANCE (MCRA)
The MCRA is a group of civil society organisations working on statelessness and citizenship rights.