KUALA LUMPUR – The Conference of Rulers have discussed proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution on matters related to citizenship.
Istana Negara, in a statement, said the rulers concluded a two-day meeting of their 265th conference today, chaired by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
This conference is also the first meeting with Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Keeper of the Ruler’s Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said.
The amendments on citizenship will be discussed at the cabinet meeting on March 8, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday.
He told a press conference the cabinet would decide if further review was needed before the bill is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.
The draft of the amendment bill has drawn criticism, as while it allows Malaysian mothers to confer citizenship on their overseas-born children, it has other “regressive” proposals that will remove citizenship protection from vulnerable children.
These include discretionary citizenship for abandoned children and babies “found exposed in any place”, and requiring proof of parents’ citizenship.
Rights groups have panned these proposals, noting how they will also impact adopted stateless children and those born before their parents’ marriage.
Apart from the amendments on citizenship, the Conference of Rulers also discussed amendments to the Police Act, matters pertaining to the administration of Islam, and appointments of Election Commission and Public Services Commission members.
The rulers also elected a chairman for the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), and were briefed on national security by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.
Also present were the Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Sultan of Kedah Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah and Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
Johor was represented by Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim; Perlis by Regent of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail; Pahang by Crown Prince Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Kelantan by Crown Prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra.
The meeting was also attended by the Governor of Penang Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, the Governor of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam and the Governor of Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
Governor of Sarawak Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was absent on the second day today as he was attending the state funeral of Abdul Taib Mahmud in Sarawak.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also in attendance. – February 22, 2024