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KUCHING, July 5: A coalition of more than 60 civil society organisations (CSOs) has strongly urged the Ministry of Home Affairs (Moha) to not rush the amendments to citizenship provisions in the Federal Constitution without engaging and consulting stakeholders, including Sarawak and Sabah.
The CSO Platform for Reform expressed grave concerns regarding the proposal to remove Section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule which it said would curtail the existing protections and citizenship rights for stateless or vulnerable children.
“A one-hour engagement with a small number of NGOs and individuals held by Moha last week is grossly insufficient for an amendment that is set to discriminate and sideline the stateless children born in Malaysia.
“While we appreciate the effort, many more rounds of engagement are needed if we are to achieve the right formulation for Malaysia,” the coalition said in a statement today.
Referring to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s statement which quoted Sabah as an example of having excessive population due to the National Security Council granting citizenship to those who have resided in the country for more than 30 years, the coalition highlighted that while the numbers are huge, this issue has not been adequately addressed before and people deserve to have a nationality.
“Leaving them stateless should never be an option. CSO Platform is most concerned that the government built upon the foundation of reform is not seen to be striving to uphold that belief.
“CSO Plaform would like to remind Moha, and others rushing for the amendments, to relook into the concept of Madani government and what it espouses. The slogan coined by the Prime Minister means to reform Malaysia into a country that believes in humanity and good values such as fair, just and effective governance. Compassion, trust and respect are also highlighted in the Madani virtues.”
The coalition stressed the importance of reform within Moha and the National Registration Department (NRD) to establish a standardised guideline for the processing of citizenship applications and reducing bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the citizenship application process.
“Furthermore, transparency must be a fundamental principle upheld by both the NRD and Moha. It is essential for both entities to adopt a transparent approach when processing applications for stateless individuals, ensuring that they are not left in a state of uncertainty during the processing period.”
Therefore, the coalition urged Saifuddin to allow a Parliament Special Select Committee (PSSC) to scrutinise the proposed amendments before presenting them to the Cabinet or the Conference of Rulers.
“With the PSSC’s mandate to check and balance, they would be able to advise the government and provide a better option, leaning towards human rights.”
CSO Platform for Reform also expressed hope that Moha will reevaluate the proposed amendments of Part III of the Federal Constitution and actively engage with stakeholders for consultations before proceeding with the plan.
It offered its dedication and assistance to Moha in streamlining the proposed amendments and working together to find effective solutions that prioritise the rights of stateless children, while upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Malaysia is a party. — DayakDaily
