Court of Appeal rejects Putrajaya’s stay of execution against Family Frontiers

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Court decision has ‘ripped my heart out’, says mum

PETALING JAYA: Several young Malaysian mothers have expressed disappointment over the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn a High Court ruling that allowed women to confer citizenship on their children born abroad by operation of law.

One of them said the decision has “ripped my heart out”.

In a 2-1 judgment in favour of the government, the appellate court ruled that children born overseas to Malaysian mothers can be denied citizenship as the word “father” in Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution and its related provisions in the Second Schedule is “clear and unambiguous” and cannot be construed to include “mother”.

“Today’s decision has ripped my heart out as a woman and a mother,” said Mashithah, a Malaysian mother who is affected by the ruling.

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