KUALA LUMPUR, February 10 — The government is in the final stages of implementing amendments to Malaysia’s citizenship laws, with changes expected to take effect on June 1, 2026, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.
The amendments will allow children born overseas to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers to obtain Malaysian citizenship automatically by operation of law, once regulatory requirements are met, addressing long-standing disparities in citizenship rights.
Saifuddin said the government is finalising amendments to the Citizenship Regulations, including the introduction of an online pre-registration system, and is awaiting royal assent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before enforcement begins.
In parallel, the government is preparing significant reforms to the Security Measures (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), including proposed changes to bail provisions and the possible establishment of a special court to reduce lengthy trial delays.
Saifuddin said offences under Sosma may be classified based on severity, with stricter bail restrictions for serious crimes and greater judicial discretion for lesser offences, while a dedicated court could help address prolonged pre-trial detention, a key criticism of the law.
