PETALING JAYA – The government will table the proposed amendments to Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution relating to the citizenship of children born overseas in Parliament this month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said it was to amend the word “father” to “parents” or “mother” or “father” after the draft was presented to the Conference of Rulers.
“I am happy to announce that the term ‘father’ in the Federal Constitution in terms of the right of children to become a citizen will be replaced by ‘parents’ or ‘mother’ or ‘father’.
“After so long since this matter was raised, the Madani government under (Women, Family and Community Development Minister) Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, we were able to make these very significant amendments,” he said at the International Women’s Day celebration tonight.
The prime minister also believes the amendments will receive unanimous support from lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat.
In the meantime, Anwar said he had instructed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain to give immediate attention to cases related to sexual harassment.
He has said the existing Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal are insufficient if enforcement is not carried out effectively.
“It’s a shame, if we, as a country, talk about values and morals, but there are still painful news reports that knock on our hearts.”
He said that children were being sent to hostels at boarding and tahfiz schools with high hopes of nurturing them with good morals.
“Yet there are mistreatments and these must be stopped with all the strength of the national leadership,” he said.
Also present were the prime minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Nancy and her deputy Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, along with other ministers. – March 9, 2024