KUALA LUMPUR, February 22 – The anticipated proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution concerning Malaysian citizenship matters will be brought before the federal Cabinet on March 8, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The decision on the proposed revisions will depend on whether the Cabinet accepts them entirely or suggests amendments. The Home Minister emphasized the importance of careful consideration of all relevant factors and the involvement of experts in constitutional matters in the deliberation process.
However, concerns have been raised by various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) regarding the potential elimination of existing safeguards for stateless children if the amendments are approved. Experts have cautioned that these changes could worsen the issue of statelessness among children in the country, particularly with provisions that would subject abandoned children to discretionary citizenship, placing the burden on them to prove their parentage. The presentation to the Cabinet marks a significant step in the ongoing discussion surrounding citizenship laws in Malaysia.
