Ramkarpal Singh, a former deputy law minister, has called upon the government to reconsider or postpone recently proposed changes to citizenship laws that could impact foundlings and abandoned children, urging further research on the matter before implementation. Addressing Parliament, he emphasized the need to halt these amendments, which would require foundlings to undergo a bureaucratic process for citizenship rather than granting them automatic citizenship.
He questioned the rationale behind such amendments, arguing that they contradict the government's goal of law improvements and reforms. Moreover, Ramkarpal highlighted the government's commitment to reducing statelessness, which he believes will be undermined by the proposed changes, contrary to the UNHCR's objective of reducing statelessness globally.
The proposed amendments, introduced last October, aim to address citizenship issues faced by overseas-born children of Malaysian women with foreign spouses. However, various civil societies have raised objections, noting that these amendments would also impact children born out of wedlock, stateless children adopted by Malaysian parents, and foundlings or abandoned children. Critics argue that removing safeguards against statelessness could perpetuate a cycle of vulnerability for these children.
NGOs have urged the Home Ministry to reconsider the amendments, expressing concerns about their regressive nature and their potential harm to the best interests of the affected children. Specifically, the amendment to Section 19B, Part III of the Second Schedule would change citizenship from "operation of law" to "registration," thereby depriving foundlings and abandoned children of automatic citizenship.
Ramkarpal further emphasized the illogicality of requiring foundlings to register for citizenship, especially considering situations where babies are abandoned and found later. He questioned whether the government has thoroughly studied the implications of the proposed amendments, particularly in regions like Sabah and Sarawak, where the rate of foundlings is reportedly high. While acknowledging potential national security concerns, Ramkarpal urged the government to provide evidence of comprehensive studies supporting the necessity of these amendments.
In conclusion, Ramkarpal's plea underscores the importance of thoughtful consideration and empirical evidence in shaping citizenship laws, particularly when they impact vulnerable populations like foundlings and abandoned children.
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