To Earn a Birthright
Tatler Malaysia|February 2022
When you take away societal expectations and gender norms, where is the line supposedly drawn between a ‘father’ and a ‘mother’, when the two are simply parents who want the best for their children?
Koyyi Chin
To Earn a Birthright

You are a Malaysian woman who conceived while abroad. And though motherhood is a joyous occasion, a gut-churning anxiety roils at the back of your mind as you wonder what this will mean for your child’s future—because despite being born from a Malaysian mother and are thus of Malaysian descent, they were not born on Malaysian soil and as a consequence, not considered Malaysian.

Even when you should not even have to justify why you could not come home to give birth, you do it anyway, because you want to be able to bring your child back to your home country. Yet, despite explaining the dangers of flying while pregnant, the travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, or that you had health complications that barred you from travelling, the way back home is shut to the child you carried for nine months, and by extension, you.

Before the landmark ruling made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on September 9, 2021, where Malaysian mothers with a foreign spouse could now automatically confer citizenship to their overseas-born children, the language the provisions of the Federal Constitution had used for their citizenship application were ambiguous at best, and outright preferential at worst.

To clarify, although Article 15(2) states that ‘the Federal Government may cause any person under the age of twenty-one years whose parents one at least is (or was at death) a citizen to be registered as a citizen upon application made to the Federal Government by his parent or guardian’, the actual proceedings for a Malaysian mother to have the applications actively processed was an exhaustive trial many have had to contend with for decades. However, up until December 2020, these cases have been swept under the rug, either left hung out to dry as ‘pending’ applications or rejected without reason.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2022-Ausgabe von Tatler Malaysia.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2022-Ausgabe von Tatler Malaysia.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS TATLER MALAYSIAAlle anzeigen
How Working Out Transforms Your Skin
Tatler Malaysia

How Working Out Transforms Your Skin

When we think about the benefits of exercise, glowing skin might not be the first thing that comes to mind. That said, getting that sweat going is not only great for your body but also an absolute game-changer for your skin

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 2024
Mane Attraction
Tatler Malaysia

Mane Attraction

Dr Chang Chee Seong of Kaiteki Clinic shares his expert insights on hair loss, from the most common causes to cutting-edge solutions and what to expect on the journey of hair recovery

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2024
Body Manscaping
Tatler Malaysia

Body Manscaping

Discover the entrepreneurial journey of Jared Chuah, cofounder of Nateskin, and how this Malaysian brand is breaking taboos around men's grooming, particularly below the belt

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
Skin Superfoods
Tatler Malaysia

Skin Superfoods

Glow from within with these six ingredients that are good for your complexion

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
Elevated Wellness
Tatler Malaysia

Elevated Wellness

Discover Amani Biohacking Club: Malaysia's first biohacking society for optimal leadership and life balance

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2024
The Dior Warrior
Tatler Malaysia

The Dior Warrior

Drawing inspiration from the world of sports and the strength of female Amazonian warriors, Maria Grazia Chiuri redefines empowered femininity as something both graceful and formidable for Dior's spring-summer 2025 collection

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 2024
ASIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL - MALAYSIA
Tatler Malaysia

ASIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL - MALAYSIA

Meet the country's most influential individuals: 100 prominent figures who are changing the landscape in Malaysia across industries in our main categories, from business and STEM, to social impact and culture.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2024
Innovating with Purpose
Tatler Malaysia

Innovating with Purpose

Chor Chee Hoe, co-founder of Qarbotech, talks about how carbon-based innovations are changing the face of farming and ensuring a greener, more productive future

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
Grounded Vision
Tatler Malaysia

Grounded Vision

Minister of housing and local government, Nga Kor Ming shares the personal experiences and guiding principles that have shaped him, revealing the thoughtful man behind politician

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
Raising Penang's Bar
Tatler Malaysia

Raising Penang's Bar

Backdoor Bodega's Koh Yung Shen is elevating Penang's bar scene with Penang Cocktail Week

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024