CHILDREN BORN OVERSEAS TO MALAYSIAN WOMEN ELIGIBLE FOR CITIZENSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry has formulated a
mechanism to enable children born overseas to Malaysian women married to
foreigners will be eligible for citizenship, said its minister, Hishammuddin Tun
Hussein.

He said for the time being there was no provision in the Federal
Constitution for the children to be automatically accorded with Malaysian
citizenship.

Currently, only children born overseas to foreign women married to Malaysian
men are conferred Malaysian citizenship, he said in a statement Sunday.

He said in an effort to resolve gender discrimination over the issue, the
ministry had approved a new rule without the need to amend existing law.

"Among the conditions, both parents must make joint applications by
completing the forms provided.



"This is to avoid disputes between parents and dual citizenship of the
children as well as to protect the image of the country," he said, adding that
both parents must appear before a consular officer at the office of foreign
missions.

Hishammuddin said the application must be made within one year from the
birth of the children.

He said after the applications were approved, they must apply in person to
the National Registration Department for citizenship certificates and MyKid for
the children.

-- BERNAMA



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