OCTOBER 13 — The passage of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 marks a historic milestone in ending decades of citizenship inequality for Malaysian women. Overwhelmingly passed by both houses of Parliament by December 2024, it received Royal Assent on March 7, 2025 and was officially gazetted on March 20, 2025. But as of today, the amendments remain inoperative, and the official implementation date is yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, this landmark legislative reform remains incomplete and hollow. Without its enforcement, Malaysian women continue to be denied equal citizenship rights, and are forced to bear the harm caused by this ongoing discrimination.
This harmful effect is particularly pronounced for pregnant Malaysian women living overseas. As long as the reform is not in effect, their children who are born abroad are not able to acquire Malaysian citizenship by operation of law.
