THE Home Ministry is confident that amendments to the Federal Constitution for children born overseas to Malaysian women to be granted citizenship can pose a big impact on the ministry in dealing with related matters. 

Its minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this is because the ministry has received many applications related to citizenship issues. 

“There are applications in this category, so that is why the amendments will have to undergo the due process, and it will have a big impact on several components of the Home Ministry,” he said.

Saifuddin said this after officiating at the ministry’s Madani 2023 programme at Kompleks Perpaduan Jajahan Machang today, which was also attended by the Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Immigration Director-General Khairul Dzaimee Daud. 

Earlier, Saifuddin and Law and Institutional Reforms Minister Azalina Othman Said said in a joint statement that the cabinet had agreed to the proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution to grant Malaysian citizenship for children born abroad to Malaysian women married to foreigners.

The statement said the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2023 is expected to be tabled in parliament in the current session upon fulfilment of legal requirements.

The proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution on this matter is to replace the phrase “whose father” in part I and part II of the second schedule with the phrase “at least one of the parents”, to allow Malaysian mothers to receive their just rights under the Federal Constitution. 

When asked if the government will upgrade identity documents, Saifuddin Nasution said the security features on identity documents are sufficient, making them very difficult to forge.

“When we chose the system that we call MyKad, it was complete with all the security features, be they on the chip, photograph, and so on.

“We have not received any problems or complaints from the people because this identity document has 12 security features and it is very difficult for any party to try to forge it as it adheres to set standards,” he added. – Bernama, February 18, 2023.