The 150 Malaysian women noted that yesterday marked 600 days since the government announced that the Cabinet had agreed to the amendment.

In a statement, they said that any additional delay further  risked denying citizenship to more overseas-born children of Malaysian women and subjecting them to the unequal impact of Malaysian citizenship laws.

The group said the delay keeps Malaysian mothers separated from their families, causes anxiety about their children’s future.

It also imposes a financial burden in raising a non-Malaysian child due to the visa renewal costs, along with long wait times and repeated citizenship applications at government departments.

“This further reinforces why it is important that the constitutional amendment is passed immediately without any more delays. Each day that passes without this constitutional change undermines the rights of Malaysian women and their children,” said the statement.

“They should not be forced to leave their existing families behind overseas to give birth in Malaysia while being all alone.

“No other Malaysian woman after this should have to make the choice between risking her life and her unborn child over a guarantee to citizenship.”

The women also hoped the amendment would be passed retroactively.

In March, the government tabled the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat. If passed, the law will grant citizenship to children if either one of their parents is Malaysian.

However, the law as drafted will not apply retrospectively. Family Frontiers, an NGO advocating equal citizenship rights, said this would mean a whole generation of children born before it comes into force will remain in limbo.

The Federal Constitution only grants automatic citizenship to children born to Malaysian fathers. Mothers, on the other hand, have no choice but to apply to the government for their children to be naturalised – a process that may take many years.