In a statement, he noted the legal challenges mounted by stateless Malaysian children who have been denied citizenship.
“While the legal process must take its course, I am appalled that large numbers of stateless Malaysian children are still without this basic right,” he said.
“These are genuine cases of children who were born and raised in Malaysia, and who qualify to be citizens under our constitution; under our laws and constitution no child should or can be rendered stateless.
“It is shameful that stateless children have to file legal actions and be dragged through a series of appeals simply to obtain the basic right of citizenship.”
Yesterday, a three-man bench led by Hasan Lah decided to allow leave applications by three sets of parents who want their appeals to be heard on the position of stateless children.
The fundamental question before the apex court is whether blood or lineage is a requirement under the Federal Constitution in determining the citizenship of a child.
In all the three cases, the Court of Appeal rejected citizenship applications simply because the mother was a foreigner even though the children were born in Malaysia.