COMMENT | On Oct 17, Malaysia’s lower house of Parliament passed a controversial bill to amend the country’s citizenship laws in an almost unanimous vote.

Although the bill represents a significant milestone for gender equality by recognising Malaysian women’s equal right to confer automatic citizenship on their children born overseas [Sections 1(b) and (c) of the Second Schedule, Part II of the Federal Constitution], it also contains several concerning provisions that threaten nationality rights and risk perpetuating statelessness among children.

The bill is now set to be deliberated in the Dewan Negara early next month. We should use this opportunity to amend the bill and at the very least mitigate any impact of statelessness for the sake of the children and their future.