KUCHING: Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah has commended the High Court’s decision on automatic granting of citizenship rights to children born abroad by biological mothers who are Malaysian citizens married to foreigners — the same as those for children born abroad to Malaysian men with a foreign spouse.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women chief noted that the decision had provided a much-needed relief as applying for citizenship was previously a lengthy process with great difficulties.
“PBB Women’s Wing welcomes the ruling of the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Sept 9.
“Children born abroad are entitled to Malaysian citizenship by law and automatically recognised as citizens without the need to make any application.
“For decades, Malaysian mothers with children born abroad were denied such fundamental rights. Hence, we trust that this decision served as a sweet victory for the women involved,” she told the media after a PBB Women’s Wing Supreme Council meeting on Tuesday (Sept 28).
At the same time, she noted that PBB Women’s Wing believed that the decision was in line with Malaysia’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women commitment to uphold gender equality and the principle of non-discrimination against women of which Malaysia is a signatory thereto.
“Certain archaic laws, including certain provisions in the Federal Constitution that are not gender sensitive, will need to be amended to eliminate gender discrimination.
“We trust that this will be done,” added the Sarawak Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister.
