'PM's Malaysian Family torn apart by govt's appeal against citizenship ruling'

Former deputy women, family and community development minister Hannah Yeoh, called on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to “urgently” instruct Attorney-General Idrus Harun to withdraw the appeal and similarly instruct the Home Ministry to respect and implement the High Court ruling.

“This episode alone has shown so many inconsistencies within his cabinet, but the most glaring weakness is the failure of this government to protect women and children.

“His one big ‘Malaysian Family’ concept is being tested and torn apart by this nonsensical and cruel decision of the attorney-general to cause hardship and heartache to these mothers and their families.

“This is Ismail Sabri’s 100 days test to show he can lead his multi-headed government and bring relief to these suffering mothers and their children,” she said.

Yesterday, the government filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal against the Sept 9 Kuala Lumpur High Court decision which ruled that Malaysian women have the same right as Malaysian men to confer citizenship to their overseas-born children.

The High Court had ruled that the constitutional provision which only granted automatic citizenship to overseas-born children if the father is Malaysian but not if the mother is Malaysian was discriminatory.

Separately, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang called on the ministers who oppose the government appeal against the High Court decision to jointly raise the issue at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting.

“Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Rina Harun and Zuraida Kamaruddin should jointly raise the issue of the government appeal at the cabinet meeting this week and should canvass for support on the issue from other ministers before the cabinet meeting.

“This is a test as to what is the extent of their support for the High Court decision that children born overseas to Malaysian mothers are entitled to Malaysian citizenship by operation of law,” said Lim in a statement today.

In her rebuke against the government appeal, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto similarly called for the withdrawal of the appeal.

“The decision to appeal against the decision to confer citizenship to children born to Malaysian mothers overseas is a shameful impression on Malaysia’s effort in seeking a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council is akin to missing the forest for the trees.

“How can we project Malaysia as a beacon of human rights when we condone these human rights abuses in our own backyard?

“Before we shake our heads in dismay and disgust of women’s rights violations in countries like Afghanistan, Qatar and even in India, we should address the elephant in the room on violations infringing the rights of women and children, and unless we make courageous decisions armed with the political will to reverse that, Malaysia may make it to the list of the worst countries for women.

“How can we expect to be taken seriously as bearers of the torch on gender equality when Malaysian mothers are crying for years on the injustice that they and their children face?” asked Kasthuriraani.

She cautioned that the government must put “our house in order” before aspiring to be guardians of gender equality and champions the rights of children when the government’s appeal does not act within those interests.

“Withdraw the appeal,” said the Batu Kawan MP.