24 June 2022

 

Press statement by Wanita MCA National Chairperson Datuk Heng Seai Kie

 

Citizenship of children born overseas: Wanita MCA hopes for victory and end of predicament for mothers

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday (22 June) set 5 August 2022 to deliver the verdict on the government’s appeal over the High Court ruling last year that allowed citizenship to be automatically granted to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses.

 

Wanita MCA expresses our heartfelt sympathy as we stand in solidarity with the troubled mothers affected by this issue, who undoubtedly feel insecure and frustrated as long as there is no final verdict on the matter.

 

Following the High Court ruling on 9 September 2021, Wanita MCA was aware that many mothers hurried to the Putrajaya National Registration Department in a bid to complete the citizenship application for their children. This shows that there is a significant number of mothers in the community who are tormented by this issue, which is gender discriminatory in nature and infringes on basic human rights.

 

Hence, Wanita MCA encourages Malaysian mothers with overseas born children from foreign spouses to press on and fight for their rights as Malaysian citizens. This is in accordance with Article 8 (2) of the Federal Constitution, which states that there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground of religion, race, descent, gender or place of birth in any law.

 

Therefore, Wanita MCA reiterates that we will stand with the mothers who have been fighting for years for the sake of their children. On 5 August, Wanita MCA hopes that the Court of Appeal will uphold the High Court ruling on 9 September 2021 and put an end to this troubling issue.

 

Datuk Heng Seai Kie

Wanita MCA National Chairperson

 

-MCA Online-