COMMENT | Last Friday, the cabinet discussed proposed constitutional amendments pertaining to the granting of citizenship.

Although details were scant, there were enough voices within the government benches to claim unhappiness over proposed constitutional amendments in granting citizenship which could see some MPs voting against party lines.

“Reading from just the room consisting of just our own guys (government MPs), (it) sent clear signals that the proposed amendments, if (the bill) hit the floor (Dewan Rakyat) without ‘decoupling’, there will be some who are compelled to break whip in order not to break conscience,” noted Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee.

Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan told Malaysiakini that there are concerns among the government lawmakers that the proposed amendments have gone beyond what was agreed upon in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto.

From what we heard and presented by NGOs, he said, it has gone beyond that, and it will be regressive.

It has been wrongly argued by the then government that citizenship is not a right but...