‘Citizenship rights will be guaranteed’
BERLIN: Citizenship rights of children born abroad to Malaysian women and non-Malaysian fathers will be guaranteed by the government says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said that amendments to Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, which deals with citizenship, would be brought to Parliament this month.

“Please follow (the) development at home... your question has been overtaken by events. Cabinet has agreed to bring this to Parliament this month,” he said when answering a question at a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora here yesterday.

The amendment to that section of the Constitution follows years of campaigning by Malaysian mothers who were deprived of their ability to grant citizenship to their children who were born overseas to foreign fathers.

“Currently, parent means father. We are going to amend it so that parent means father and mother,” said Anwar who is in Germany for a six-day official visit, Bernama reported.

The amendment aims to replace the word “father” to “parents” or “mother” or “father”, the Prime Minister added.

On another matter, Anwar said that he has directed the Election Commission to look into complaints by Malaysians about the difficulties they experienced voting while overseas.

“We need to simplify, including voting directly.

Feels like home: Anwar (centre) posing for a photo while attending an event with Malaysians in Germany. — Bernama

“For instance, more voting centres, we have Malaysian Investment Development Authority and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation offices,” he said to a question from a representative of electoral reform group Global Bersih.

Anwar added that the EC should also look into making automatic voter registrations applicable for Malaysians abroad.

The Prime Minister also spent the first day of Ramadan performing tarawih prayers with Muslims in Berlin at the Sehitlik Mosque.

Anwar, who arrived on March 9 for his official visit, was greeted by Turkyish Ambassador to Germany, Ahmet Basar Sen. He also spent time with the mosque’s congregation to discuss the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza and issues facing Muslims in Germany.

Anwar also presented donations to the mosque in conjunction with Ramadan, along with 12 copies of the Al-Quran – one special edition, one German translation and 10 English translations – to the mosque.

There are around 5.5 million Muslims in Germany, the second largest religious group in the country that represents 6.6% of the population.

In a joint media conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday, Anwar criticised Western countries for their lack of action against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza.
anwar,Berlin,citizenship,Federal Constitution
BERLIN: Citizenship rights of children born abroad to Malay­sian women and non-Malaysian fathers will be guaranteed by the government says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.