PUTRAJAYA: The government will drop the controversial proposed amendments on citizenship, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
According to him, the two proposed amendments that will be dropped are 19B Part III of the Second Schedule and Section 1(e) Part II of Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution, meaning that the current clauses will remain.
Article 19B refers to the naturalisation of foundlings and abandoned children while 1(e) of Schedule 2 states that every person born within the Federation who was not born a citizen of any country are citizens of Malaysia by operation of law.
"After various engagement sessions with party whips, party heads, agencies, legal experts and other stakeholders, I have presented my input to the Cabinet.
"The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has also held engagement sessions and we (the Cabinet) have agreed with the suggestions made.
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"All proposed amendments were accepted except for 19B and 14(1)(e). These (two articles) will remain," he said during a press conference here on Friday (March 22).
When asked if the amendments will be tabled in Parliament next week, Saifuddin stopped short of providing details.
"I still have one last engagement session with backbenchers MPs on Monday (March 25).
"Matters concerning (Parliament) will be handled by my officers. I can’t give an update yet (on when it will be tabled in Parliament).
"Once the entire process is over, we will table it as soon as possible. Parliament has its own schedule and once we are given the slot (to table it), we will do so," he added.
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Saifuddin expressed hope that once the Bill was tabled, it would get a two-thirds majority vote of at least 148 MPs, as per the requirement for a constitutional amendment.
With the decision to drop the two controversial amendments, Saifuddin said he was hopeful that those applying for citizenship would have a better experience when dealing with related matters at the Immigration office.
"When everything is in place, the process of applying for citizenship should be done according to the rules as well as following clear methods and mechanisms carefully."
Section 19B, Part III of the Second Schedule provided that foundlings are given automatic citizenship by operation of law, as provided for under an evidentiary provision that gave them the benefit of doubt as to the date and place of their birth, given that the status of their biological parents were unknown and unable to be proven.
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As for Section 1(e), Part II of the Second Schedule, similar protection under operation of law was given to vulnerable and affected people, such as children born out of wedlock, adopted and abandoned stateless children, and indigenous communities.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the Home Ministry had collected RM9,477,300 through its Migrant Repatriation Programme.
As of March 21, he said, a total of 19,515 undocumented migrants had registered at the Immigration office and paid fines while completing other formalities.
At the same time, he said 13,760 foreign workers have left the country, adding that others have until Dec 31 this year to leave without facing prosecution.
