Remaining gaps in Malaysia's citizenship framework leave certain children at risk of statelessness and prolonged legal uncertainty, said Suhakam.PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has urged the government to press on with reforms to the country's citizenship laws following recent rulings made by the Court of Appeal.Suhakam said it respected the court's independence but noted its rulings reflected the remaining gaps in the country's citizenship framework, which leave certain children at risk of statelessness and prolonged legal uncertainty.It said Malaysia has been a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1995. The convention recognises the right of each child to be registered and acquire a nationality immediately after birth."Suhakam has consistently maintained that no child should be disadvantaged or denied access to nationality because of the marital status of their parents or circumstances beyond their control."Every child is entitled to equal protection and non-discrimination under the law, regardless of the marital status of their parents. A child's legal identity and future should never depend on decisions or circumstances for which the child bears no responsibility."Citizenship is not merely a legal status; it is the gateway to the enjoyment of many fundamental rights, including access to education, healthcare, social protection, employment and full participation in society," it said in a statement.Suhakam said Malaysia's citizenship laws should therefore be progressively reformed in keeping with the principles of equality and looking after a child's best interests.While Putrajaya has amended the constitution to allow Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses to pass on their citizenship to children born overseas, further reforms are still necessary, it said."Pending broader reforms, Suhakam also encourages the government to continue utilising existing constitutional and administrative mechanisms available under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution, which was specifically enacted to prevent children from becoming stateless."The executive discretion must be exercised in accordance with the child's best interests and to prevent children from becoming stateless through no fault of theirs."Two weeks ago, the Court of Appeal ruled that a 25-year-old man born in Perak failed to prove that he wa…
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