Proposed amendments to citizenship laws to be presented to rulers after state polls

The government is preparing a document on all proposed amendments to Part III of the Federal Constitution relating to citizenship matters submitted by the government, taking into account as well as the views of the people.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the document would be presented to the Conference of Rulers after the six state elections.

She said it involved eight proposed amendments to the entire Part III of the Federal Constitution along with the First Schedule and Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which also covers the issue of citizenship for children born abroad to women who are Malaysian citizens.

She said the eight proposed amendments were based on the findings of research analyses, engagement sessions, comparative studies of the legislation of other countries, as well as discussions in Cabinet and technical committee meetings.

"Any proposed amendment to Part III of the Federal Constitution related to citizenship matters must be approved by the Conference of Rulers in accordance with the provisions of Article 159(5) of the Federal Constitution," she said in a statement.

Azalina said the proposed amendments to Part III of the Federal Constitution also require the consent of the governors of Sabah and Sarawak in accordance with Article 161E(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

She said this was with regard to amendments that touch on the right of people born before Malaysia Day to become citizens because of their relationship with Sabah and Sarawak, or the guarantee of equal treatment of people born and residing in the Borneo states and people born in the Malay states, she said.