“The plight of stateless children in Malaysia is ‘appalling’ while the government’s indifference to it is ‘shameful’.

“The government has shown no interest or political will to resolve this matter.

“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.

“Whilst the legal process must take its course, I am appalled that large numbers of stateless Malaysian children are still without this basic right.”

- Anwar Ibrahim from behind the walls of Sungai Buloh prison, Sept 12, 2017.

COMMENT | Triggered by the scandalous granting of “instant” citizenship to seven foreign footballers last year, I had raised the issue of Malaysians who were born in this country being compelled to seek redress through the legal system for their citizenship.

They included...