“Lain kali go marry a local Malaysian men [sic] abroad if you want your kids to have Malaysian citizenships.”
“The law is to protect Malaysian women as our precious asset, so please think and choose wisely before getting marry [sic].”
“Government always follow the dad. This is something u need to adapt to.”
From xenophobic comments that deem children born abroad as “outsiders” and “threats to national security”, to ones that outright penalise Malaysian women for marrying abroad and tell them to have their children follow the father’s citizenship as they presumably “follow the father’s surname”, or because the fathers were “heads of their households”, these were what Malaysian mothers contended with over Twitter when they shared their personal struggles on conferring citizenship to their children.
The crux of the issue faced by Malaysian women abroad boils down to the patrilineal interpretation of our citizenship laws, and society’s lack of awareness towards the challenges presented to these women because of said interpretation.
On September 9, 2021, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the government must grant citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses. However, that ruling was overturned by the Court of Appeal in August 2022.
Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Tatler Malaysia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Tatler Malaysia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The 9-karat Charm
Nine-karat jewellery is officially in - here's why you should hop on the bandwagon, according to 'Kin
Spreading Joy
Through fashion, newly minted Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Denica Riadini-Flesch simultaneously empowers rural women and tackles environmental issues in Indonesia
Designs That Reward Observation
Ming Thein, creative director and co-founder of Ming, an independent Kuala Lumpur-based timepiece brand, talks design and inspiration
Daring Designs
From architectural marvels to playfully expressive wonders, Louis Vuitton continues to push the boundaries of High Watchmaking
Threading Wonders
Delve into the sculptural creations of the avant-garde Indian designer known for reviving bridal couture in his hometown
Defying Gravity
Kim Jones puts a spin on the Dior Oblique motif with Dior Gravity leather, redefining iconic bags, shoes and other menswear must-haves
Designer of Futures
Datuk Jimmy Choo trains the younger generation at the JCA, London Fashion Academy
Hello, Dolly!
Wesley Hilton is the founder of Borneo Doll, proudly showcasing Malaysian indigenous tribes through miniature recreations of ancient traditional costumes
Digital Sanctuary
Digital artist Chong Yan Chuah explores concepts such as techno-paganism to imagine worlds that are embedded in alternative cosmologies
One Man's Trash, Another Woman's Art
Nor Tijan's art is a vision of sustainability