6 days ago
Automatic citizenship still pending for M'sian mothers' overseas-born children ― Minister
MIRI (Aug 4): The federal government has yet to enforce the automatic granting of citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers, as the constitution amendment need to go through several procedures before it can formally takes effect, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the effective date of enforcement must also receive the assent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as stipulated under Section 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.
'Until the newly approved amendment comes into force, Malaysian mothers whose children are born overseas to foreign spouses may still apply for their children's citizenship under Article 15(2) of the Federal Constitution.
'They may submit their applications at any National Registration Department (JPN) office nationwide, or through Malaysian missions abroad,' he said in response to Miri MP Chiew Choon Man in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Chiew had asked the minister to clarify the current procedures applicable to overseas-born children of Malaysian mothers following the constitutional amendment ― whether these children must reapply for citizenship, and the status of applications received to date.
Saifuddin revealed that from 2024 to 2025, a total of 1,980 citizenship applications under Article 15(2) had been approved for children born abroad to Malaysian mothers married to foreign nationals.
He added that, to date, none of these applications had been rejected by the ministry.
'Currently, we are receiving an average of around 100 new applications each month,' he said.
However, Saifuddin pointed out that approvals granted so far are still being processed under the existing mechanism ― not under the newly amended constitutional provisions.
In response to Chiew's supplementary question on when the amendment regarding the citizenship of overseas-born children to Malaysian mothers will take effect, and the status of updates to the 1964 Citizenship Regulations, Saifuddin said the process is still underway.
'There are 57 clauses in the 1964 Citizenship Regulations that need to be reviewed and refined. Once that is done, we must go through several procedures before amending the relevant forms, especially as future applications will be made online.
'The system currently in use by our diplomatic missions still relies on outdated forms and formats,' he said.
He stressed that the updates must be carried out diligently and are expected to be completed by September or October this year.
Following that, Saifuddin said, the Home Ministry will finalise the updated forms and procurement processes, with implementation anticipated by mid or end of next year.
'All of this is still subject to receiving the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,' he concluded.
