Despite the fact that women are the ones giving birth to children, they were not allowed to apply for citizenships for their offspring born overseas while Malaysian men were.
But today, the court ruled that Malaysian women are now allowed the privilege that they should have been entitled to all this while.
Under Article 14 (1)(b) of the federal constitution together with the Second Schedule, Part II, Section 1(b), pertaining to citizenship rights, must be read in harmony with Article 8(2) of the federal constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender.
Today, it has been decided that the word “father” must be read to include mothers and that Malaysian mothers are now entitled to apply for citizenship for their children.
“The grievances of the plaintiffs are real… The discrimination is apparent,” high court judge, Datuk Akhtar Tahir announced.
The judiciary is not looking to change…