KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — The Dewan Rakyat passed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 today, which grants citizenship rights to children born abroad to Malaysian mothers, among others.
The bill was approved with more than a two-thirds majority, receiving support from 206 MPs in a bloc vote during its second and third readings.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said that one MP did not support the bill, 14 were absent, and one did not vote due to suspension.
The bloc voting was conducted per Article 159 of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that amendments to the Constitution at the second and third readings require no less than a two-thirds majority of the total number of MPs.
Under the existing law, children born outside the Federation could only acquire Malaysian citizenship by operation of law if the father is a citizen.
The amendments also aim to lower the age limit for applying for citizenship from 21 years to 18 years.
Earlier, during the bill's debate wind-up, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail gave assurances that the ministry will decide on all pending citizenship applications, either approving or rejecting them, within 12 months starting today.
This will ensure there are no prolonged backlogs of citizenship applications.
"Today, on October 17, the commitment of the Home Ministry (KDN) is that from now until October 17 next year, we will resolve all these (pending) applications as a sign that we are opening a new chapter and accepting new applications," he said.
Saifuddin added that KDN has developed a clearer and more organised standard operating procedure (SOP) for citizenship applications, which has been approved by the Cabinet.
He said the SOP will detail matters like application procedures and the documents that must be submitted by individuals seeking citizenship.
70 MPs participated in the debate, which lasted two days starting yesterday.
The Dewan Rakyat sitting will resume with the tabling of the Supply Bill (Budget) 2025 by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at 4pm tomorrow.
— Bernama
