Azah Aziz Suggests Govt Should Give Foreign-Born Kids Of M'sian Women Dual Citizenship
The cabinet recently agreed to amend the Federal Constitution. The proposed amendments will allow Malaysian women to pass their citizenship on to their overseas-born children, on an equal basis with Malaysian men.
Recently, the cabinet agreed to amend the Federal Constitution to enable Malaysian women to confer automatic citizenship on their overseas-born children on an equal basis with Malaysian men
In a joint statement on Saturday morning, 18 February, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stated that the amendment is expected to be tabled in the current Dewan Rakyat sitting, scheduled to end on 30 March.
According to the statement, the Cabinet has agreed to amend the Federal Constitution's Part I Section 1(1)(d) and Section 1(1)(e) and Part II Section 1(b) and Section 1(c) of the Second Schedule.
"The proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution on this matter is to replace the word 'whose father' in Part I and Part II of the Second Schedule with the words 'at least one of the parents' to enable Malaysian mothers to receive their just rights according to the Federal Constitution," it said.
Once passed, the amendments will resolve the long-standing citizenship and gender inequality issue affecting Malaysian women married to non-Malaysian men and their overseas-born children.
Image via @FamilyFrontiers (Twitter)
Welcoming the announcement, Canada-based Malaysian actress Norazah Aziz shared that she's delighted that the government has finally recognised her children as being eligible for citizenship
49-year-old Norazah, who is better known as Azah Aziz, said the government's decision was welcomed by her family as they will be moving back to Malaysia in August this year.
"This is great news. Finally, the children of Malaysian women who marry foreign husbands will have their children eligible for Malaysian citizenship," Azah told Harian Metro in an interview yesterday, 19 February.
"It just so happens that I want to move back to Malaysia this August. The reason is that my husband and I were worried about how they will live in Malaysia. Two of my children were born [in Canada]. So, with the government's latest decision, I can now apply for my children, thank God," she shared.
Azah has been married to French national Daud Leroy Abdullah since 1995.
They have three sons, 26-year-old Aaron, 20-year-old Ryan, and 17-year-old Justin. Of the three, only Aaron has Malaysian citizenship as he was born in the country.
Both Ryan and Justin are Canadian citizens due to their parents being permanent residents there.
She also suggested that it would be good if the government decides to give foreign-born children of Malaysian women and their foreign husbands dual citizenship of their parents' countries of origin
"If the government gives dual citizenship, it would be best. Then the children won't have to choose. Once they turn 21, they can choose which citizenship to have," Harian Metro quoted her as saying.
Azah said that she will talk with her children about their citizenship of choice.
"It's up to them. Like Aaron, there was a time when we asked him to get a Canadian passport, but he said he didn't want to. And now he's very happy that he doesn't have to because he'd rather live in Malaysia than Canada. All the children can't wait to move to Kuala Lumpur.
"But, before making the application, we will sit down and talk about this matter. I want to know which one they want to choose. That's why, as I said, if the government agrees to allow dual citizenship, it's better until they turn 21. After that, they can choose and make a decision," she said.
Numerous children have suffered due to previous governments' refusal to affirm the right of Malaysian mothers to confer citizenship on their overseas-born children on an equal basis with Malaysian men:
In June last year, SAYS spoke to half a dozen mothers, who shared how they feel like they have been deserted by the country they love:
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