2E-9 Barriers to the acquisition of Malaysian citizenship

By: Cso Platform For Reform – Child Cluster

Organisation/ Individual: Child Rights Coalition Malaysia (CRCM)

Policy Code: 2e Child

Problem Statement and Current Policy:

Barriers to citizenship of children with either parent Malaysia 1. Children born overseas to a Malaysian mother and foreign father. 2. Children born to Malaysian father and foreign mother outside of a legally recognized marriage.

Value(s) and Belief:

Grant Malaysian citizenship to children whose either parent or adopted parent is Malaysian, notwithstanding the marital status of the parent and regardless of the place of birth of the child.

Proposal of Solution and Call for Action:

1. In the best interest of the child, the Government must uphold the rights of all Malaysian citizens to confer their nationality onto their children regardless of gender, marital status, the child’s place of birth, and adopted status. The rights to confer citizenship must respect Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution which prohibits discrimination against citizens on the basis of gender. 2. Withdraw reservations to Article 9(2) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Additional information: