What happened to constitutional amendments that enabled citizenship for offspring of Malaysian mothers abroad?

Even though the Federal Constitution (Amendment Bill) 2024 was passed on Oct 17 to enable citizenship to be given to offspring of Malaysian mothers abroad, it has not been gazetted and enforced yet.

“The AGC has finalised a copy of the Bill and sent to the Dewan Rakyat secretary on Jan 31 to obtain royal consent from the Agong,” said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in reference to Attorney General’s Chambers.

He said that the Home Ministry are checking through other relevant laws as well.

“Of the 13 acts, Adoption Act 1952 needs to be amended.

“Some amendments needs to be made on Citizenship Methods 1964 and regulations through the powers of a minister to ensure a standardization in the implementation of the new citizenship law.

“The standard operating procedure for processing citizenship applications would also be amended,” he said in a written reply.

Saifuddin said this in response to Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) who asked on steps that needs to be taken by Malaysian mothers who have championed for the rights of their children to be Malaysian citizens by law.

He also questioned on whether there is a new standard operating procedure would be introduced for this purpose.