M.Krishnamoorthy
A media coach, adjunct professor and author
It’s time for the Government to get its act together when laws affect people, especially after the bureaucratic bungling of birthrights.
Children born in Malaysia to Malaysian mothers and non-citizen fathers are left hanging in legal limbo, and the proposed amendments reek of more confusion than clarity.
Did the deep state of the civil service, which sympathises with opposition parties, sabotage the Government by not making fair and just decisions with people in mind?
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahidi said the rise of what he deemed “anti-establishment” groups must be tackled so they don’t become the country’s burden.
They can mislead leaders into making mistakes when proposing unacceptable and not people-centric legal amendments.
Given protests from all sectors, the debate and vote on the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution concerning citizenship laws have been postponed until the next Dewan Rakyat session, which is scheduled to begin on June 24.
It’s time to reset mindsets, refocus policies and renew reforms. When the ruling party (PKR MPs) objected to the Citizenship amendments, the whole government machinery was blamed for drafting the law.
Let this be a lesson for the Cabinet so that they do not lose the people's confidence. Let’s learn from our mistakes, not repeat them.
PM must check the Cabinet and his civil service leaders. If the PM wants to return with a majority in GE16, he has to get his house in order. If the same little Napoleons in the civil service continue to mislead our leaders, Malaysia is set to doom. It is time to reset the nation to boom with dynamic, people-centric leaders.
For this reason, PM Anwar Ibrahim reminded us of the need for efficient civil service from his heart, mind, and soul. It’s time to wake up and put the house in order.
The path to inclusive citizenship requires transparency, collaboration, open dialogue, and a commitment to upholding Malaysia's core values of justice and equality. Here are some ways forward:
- Hold Public Forums: Facilitate discussions where all voices can be heard.
- Gather Expert Opinions: Seek independent legal and social impact assessments.
- Revise Drafts Based on Feedback: Demonstrate a willingness to adapt based on public input.
By working together, the government and civil society can find solutions that benefit all Malaysians.
Who are the possible parties to have exercised checks and balances in drafting and meeting participation?
- Cabinet
- Law Ministry
- Attorney General Chambers
• Home ministry’s secretary general
• Director Generals – Immigration/National Registration, etc.
- Civil servants
Remember, the people voted ministers and MPs, and now you are not listening to them because you have sought their feedback.
Why does any government fail?
- Lack of consultation with NGOs/advocacy groups
- Not getting feedback from these groups
- Little Napoleons (civil service) did not facilitate consultation
- The attitude of “We know it all” will not help the Government
- Lack of proper expertise
- Why reject a legitimate orphan when there are more than 3 million illegal immigrants in Malaysia?
Who is making decisions on the amendments to rules and regulations?
Malaysians are beginning to question whether this is a biased civil service (race/religion). Is the deep state of the civil service deciding on legislation?
Maalini Ramalo, the director of social protection at the Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA), said the amendment would only worsen the vulnerability of stateless children.
Article 15A of the Federal Constitution gives the government special powers to register people under 21 as citizens. Section 19B from part three of the Second Schedule obliges the government to confer citizenship automatically on foundlings.
Maalini also expressed concern over the minister’s defensive posture when announcing the matter, saying this did not bode well for the stateless people affected. She said the home minister has also not met with groups concerned with the proposed changes.
“The amendment is going to take away voiceless and vulnerable children’s rights,” Maalini said.
When proposing the amendments last October, the government said it would address problems plaguing foreign-born children of Malaysian women with non-citizen husbands.
Unlike the offspring of Malaysian men in similar circumstances, these children do not automatically gain citizenship.
Civil society groups have objected to the proposed amendments that would also affect children born out of wedlock to Malaysian men, stateless children adopted by Malaysian parents, foundlings or children who were abandoned (including those abandoned upon birth), and families with generations of stateless children born in Malaysia.
In a letter urging the Cabinet to put the draft Citizenship Amendment Bill on hold, the Malaysian Citizenship Rights Alliance (MCRA) expressed reservations about the proposed revisions to citizenship laws being reviewed.
The letter, endorsed by 62 NGOs and civil society organisations, three coalitions, and 30 renowned individuals, said the proposed changes, in their current form, deviate from the core principles of justice, equality, and respect for human dignity that are fundamental to our country's ethos and advancement.
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, adjunct professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns.
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