2010/04/12
By V. Shuman

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has introduced a new mechanism that will enable a child born overseas to a Malaysian mother and a foreigner father to obtain Malaysian citizenship.

Applications can be submitted to specially appointed consular officers at Malaysian embassies.

There are, however, several conditions that must be adhered to.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the applicant's parents must make a joint application in a prescribed form to avoid conflicts and disputes over the child's citizenship status in the future. Both parents must also appear before a consular officer at the Malaysian embassy.

Applications must be submitted within a year from the date of birth of the child.

"Parents who have successfully gone through their applications will then have to go to the National Registration Department with the child and apply for MyKid," he said here yesterday.

The NST recently highlighted the plight of Malaysian women who are married to foreigners and are unable to obtain Malaysian citizenship for their children.

There are currently no provisions under the Federal Constitution that allow citizenship to be automatically awarded to a child born abroad to a Malaysian mother and a non-citizen father.

Under existing provisions under Article 14 (1) (b), Section 1 (b) and Section 1 (c) of Part II of Schedule II of the Federal Constitution, only a child born outside Malaysia to a Malaysian father is awarded citizenship.

Hishammuddin said through the new mechanism, all Malaysians -- whether women or men who are married to foreign nationals -- could apply for citizenship for their children born overseas.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil thanked Hishammuddin for the quick response.

"There will be a sigh of relief around the world from Malaysian families who have been in this predicament. I hope the administrative procedures will be finalised as soon as possible and Wisma Putra officers are briefed," she said in a statement.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/3hish/Article/index_html