Jeffrey says exempt Sabah from citizenship amendments

1 hour ago

Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan said the state Cabinet is concerned that the proposed amendments could negatively affect rural Sabahans.(Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Sabah should be exempted from provisions of proposed amendments to citizenship laws, which are expected to be brought to the Dewan Rakyat this month, deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan said today.

He said the matter was discussed at a recent state Cabinet meeting. At the moment, we will say that if you want to do this amendment, let it only apply in Peninsular Malaysia.

"This is our stand," he said.

He described the changes, to be made by amending the Federal Constitution, as amounting to a double-edged sword. It may be good on the one hand, but not good on the other, he was quoted as saying.

Kitingan said the Sabah Cabinet was of the view that the amendments could also open up doors for illegal immigrants.

"As far as Sabah is concerned – we have discussed in the Cabinet also – we do not want it to have a negative impact on our people in particular, he said. Kitangan added that rural Sabahans who lacked proper identity documents could become stateless under the amended law."

Last week, 28 organisations and 38 activists urged all MPs from Sabah to vote against the proposed citizenship amendments.

They said a proposal to remove automatic citizenship for children born to Malaysian permanent residents would worsen matters for stateless people in Sabah, and hinder their access to education, health services and employment.

They said the government had not sought their views despite their experience in dealing directly with people and families who would be affected.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024, tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on March 25, would also grant overseas-born children of Malaysian women citizenship and lower the age limit to apply for citizenship by registration from 21 to 18.

In July, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said there were still some matters that needed to be refined despite receiving positive feedback from the Conference of Rulers.

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