Current issues, feedback & complaints on public services in Malaysia
THE National Registration Department thanks Mable Teoh of Neuchatel, Switzerland for sharing her thoughts in the letter “Why Can’t My Child Be A Citizen?” ( NST, April 25).
The department appreciates her views on the issue of citizenship for children born outside the country to Malaysian mothers married to foreigners.
The department would like to point out that children born outside the Federation of Malaysia are given citizenship based on provisions in the Federal Constitution.
Part 2 of Section 1 (b) of Article 14 (1) (b) of the Federal Constitution reads that everyone born outside the federation whose father at the time of birth is a citizen of Malaysia born in the federation will be granted Malaysian citizenship.
Therefore, the citizen status of a child is dependent solely on the father as per the Federal Constitution.
JAINISAH MOHD NOOR For Director-General, National Registration Department
Source: NST – May 2, 2008
One response to “Citizenship: Child’s status depends on father”
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TwoSen is updated daily with letters written to newspapers in Malaysia.
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Shirina Rashid, Christchurch, NZ
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I wholly disagree with this law and it is about time changes should be made. A child has the right to be a Malaysian regardless if his or her mum is one. Is this Part 2 of Section 1 (b) of Article 14 (1) (b) of the Federal Constitution trying to imply the fact it’s the Malaysian woman’s fault for marrying a foreigner in the first place? Moreover this law is outdated and biased against Malaysian women. Get over with it! In this day and age, love knows no borders when it comes to loving someone.