Peoples Progressive Party president M Kayveas today called on the government to look into the status of children born in Malaysia to a local mother and a foreign father, 10,000 of whom are in Sabah alone.

"They are children without a state, without a country and we feel these 'stateless' people are likely to create social problems in the future," he said during his speech at the party's 50th general assembly opening today.

"Because the law is not friendly towards them, PPP would like to suggest that the fate of the couples and the status of their children be given special attention so that the family institution does not break up," he added in the Bernama report.

Kayveas noted that last year, 45,274 foreign women married local men, and if they had children in Malaysia, they would be allowed to stay in the country at the discretion of the Immigration Department Director of Visas, Passes and Permits.

"However, for foreign men who hold temporary working passes and marry locals, if they divorce, the men would no longer be accorded any distinction except as normal tourists."

In this matter, the government needed to take realistic steps to recognise the children's status as Malaysians, he said.

Cannot function efficiently

Meanwhile, Kayveas also touched on the issue of government bureaucrats and local authorities who fail to offer support to elected representatives in carrying out their duty to the people.

"Representatives always feel disappointed because they cannot function efficiently," he said.

"The agencies and authorities, especially the local government, are usually coddled and protected by the state government."

Kayveas added that while local authorities were entrusted with the role of administrating public affairs, they themselves have ended up with "too much freedom to act, as if there is a colony in the government."