PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government would explain to backbenchers the proposed amendments to the citizenship law.

He said the Conference Of Rulers had declared a stance on the amendments.

“Any constitutional amendment on the issue of citizenship must be cleared with the Conference of Rulers.

“The rulers have taken a certain position and we will have to honour it. We need to explain this to the backbenchers,” he told reporters after officiating the Malaysia Digital Expo 2023 Grand Finale in Kuala Lumpur today.

Several backbenchers, including Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee, had shared on social media their disappointment over the proposal.

Putrajaya put forth the constitutional changes to solve citizenship problems plaguing overseas-born children of Malaysian women with foreign husbands.

When asked about Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul’s idea to publish the names of MPs who were absent from sittings, Anwar said it was up to Johari.

He also said not to politicise the Israel-Palestine conflict or mislead the people to gain political mileage, especially in matters of humanitarian aid.

He said Malaysia had obtained approval to send humanitarian aid to Palestine via the Egypt-Gaza border. – November 6, 2023.