PETALING JAYA, 8 March — The government will table the proposed amendments to Article 14 (1) (b) of the Federal Constitution, concerning the citizenship of children born overseas, in Parliament this month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The amendment will change the word ‘father’ to ‘parents’ or ‘mother’ or ‘father’ after the draft was presented to the Conference of Rulers.
“I am happy to announce 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 being raised, the Madani Government, under the Minister (Women, Family, and Community Development) Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, was able to make these very significant amendments,” he said during the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration tonight.
The Prime Minister also believes the amendments will receive unanimous support from MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.
In the meantime, Anwar said he has instructed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain to give immediate attention to cases related to sexual harassment.
The existing Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 (Act 840) and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal are insufficient if enforcement is not carried out effectively.
“It is a shame if we, as a country, talk about values and morals, yet there are still painful news reports that knock on our hearts,” he said.
Anwar added that children were being sent to hostels (boarding schools) and maahad tahfiz 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, her deputy Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, and Cabinet ministers.
— Bernama
