Among the MPs who had their private bill rejected were Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.

The bills sought to amend Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution to insert the words “or mother” after the word “father” in paragraphs (1)(b) and (1)(c).

Those paragraphs state that every person born outside the federation on or after Malaysia Day, whose father is at the time of birth a Malaysian citizen, will be considered a Malaysian citizen by operation of law.

In August, the Court of Appeal ruled that children born overseas to Malaysian mothers could be denied citizenship by operation of law.

In a statement, Azalina said the relevant sections in the Federal Constitution were “outright discriminatory” of Malaysian women and left thousands of children born to them stateless and in limbo.

“It is my sincere hope that the government of the day prioritises measures that can be taken to allow citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers as is their birthright.

“We must act in the best interest of our children and the rights of Malaysian mothers, and we must act now,” said the chairman of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on women, children’s affairs and social development.

The former law minister added that the PSC was ready to bring this matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The rejection of the 17 MPs’ bills was based on the reasoning that constitutional amendments cannot be passed without the consent of the Conference of Rulers.