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COMMENTARY The | As most countries in the world celebrate Mother’s Day today, the Malaysian Campaign for Equal Citizenship wishes to remind the government that Malaysian mothers still do not have the same rights to pass on citizenship to their children born in the Foreign.
The unequal treatment of women with regard to the transmission of citizenship to their children is direct discrimination against Malaysian mothers.
Vulnerability to gender violence.
When Malaysian women are unable to pass on citizenship to their foreign-born children, this could lead to situations where these women are forced to trust the citizenship of their foreign husbands for their children; They lead to situations where these women may be forced to live abroad, and sometimes in abusive and vulnerable situations.
Malaysian mothers also face obstacles when it comes to returning to Malaysia with their non-citizen children, such as restrictions on their children’s right to stay, access to national schools and even medical care.
Therefore, they choose to live in their husband’s country, making it difficult to leave toxic or abusive marriages. Indeed, Malaysian citizenship laws infringe on women’s rights to their children, although they may be the primary caregivers.
A Malaysian mother abroad quoted: “I cannot divorce my husband as my son is not a citizen (of Malaysia). I could end up losing custody even though I raised him. I’m still stuck in this marriage and there’s nothing else I can do. “
Malaysian mothers who are divorced and have non-citizen children will also require the help of their foreign ex-husbands to renew their children’s passport as long as their applications for Malaysian citizenship are pending, sometimes for years, with no guarantee of approval .
Impact on severe mothers during the Covid-19 situation
The Covid-19 pandemic has widened the vulnerability situation for Malaysian women who are unable to obtain citizenship for their children.
Malaysian women are choosing to stay in high-risk countries rather than return to Malaysia, as their non-Malaysian children generally receive short-term visas, especially without the presence of the foreign father.
The law not only treats Malaysian mothers as unequal citizens, but they are also considered unequal guardians of their children by such discriminatory policies.
Feelings of fear and uncertainty.
Malaysian mothers with non-citizen children have consistently expressed concern about their children’s uncertain future, especially after turning 21, as these children will no longer be eligible for citizenship under the provisions of Article 15 (2) .
A Malaysian mother who is terminally ill says that not a day goes by without feeling scared and anxious about what would happen to her non-Malaysian children if something happened to her.
On this Mother’s Day, while we honor mothers and their influence on the family and society, let us not forget that citizenship laws still do not recognize Malaysian mothers as equal citizens.
On this Mother’s Day, we call on the government to amend the provisions of the Federal Constitution that deny Malaysian mothers the same rights with respect to transmitting citizenship to their foreign-born children, similarly to Malaysian parents. .
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers living in Malaysia.
The MALAYSIAN CAMPAIGN FOR EQUAL CITIZENSHIP is led by the Support Group for Foreign Spouses (FSSG).
The views expressed here are those of the author / contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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