KUALA LUMPUR: Unregistered marriages have been cited as the primary reason as to why there are stateless children in the country, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said the National Registration Department (NRD) recorded a child’s status as a citizen or non-citizen based on the marital and citizenship status of the parents at the time of his or her birth.
“Therefore, I call on all Malaysians who have been brave enough to get married, to also have the courage to register the marriage because if they don’t, their children will be the ones having to bear the consequences of their actions.”
He said this in reply to Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) on the initiatives taken by the government to help stateless children after the child’s non-citizen mother did not register her marriage with the father, a Malaysian citizen.
Mohd Azis said that in cases involving non-citizen mothers and the late registration of marriages, the couple could apply for their child’s citizenship at the NRD under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.
Article 15A provides special powers to federal administrators to register a person under the age of 21 as a citizen.
“Applications at the NRD will be considered if they meet the requirements stated in the Federal Constitution and other relevant legislation,” the deputy minister said.
He added that various efforts were being made by the government to assist stateless children with the cooperation of Home Ministry, Education Ministry and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. – Bernama
