Mum's passing draws wide support for those with overseas-born children
The two-hour-long ceremony was organised by Family Frontiers and was held in remembrance of Sabeena Syed Jafer, who leaves behind four children.
Sabeena has been fighting for her overseas-born children to be Malaysian citizens since they returned to the country in 2008...
A tahlil prayer held at Taman Aman Jaya in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, yesterday drew the attention of sympathetic families, civil society organisations and elected representatives.
The two-hour-long ceremony was organised by Family Frontiers and was held in remembrance of Sabeena Syed Jafer, who leaves behind four children.
Sabeena has been fighting for her overseas-born children to be Malaysian citizens since they returned to the country in 2008.
However, her wish to see her children become citizens of her home country was not fulfilled.
Sabeena died from a heart attack on March 29 this year, while undergoing an angioplasty procedure.
Muda central executive member Dian Lee and the party’s Gender and Family Bureau chief Aini Haziqah were among those who attended the prayers for the late Sabeena yesterday evening.
Speaking to reporters, Lee spoke of the challenges faced by local mothers once their overseas-born children begin school, such as students wanting to represent their schools at tournaments but not being able to do so due to their citizenship status.
“It affects the mother’s daily life. I also met with some mothers one-on-one. Especially during the pandemic, they were not allowed to come home or couldn’t leave the country.
“If they wanted to stay in this country, they had to find a way to do so because their children are ‘not Malaysian’.
“It’s a cruel discrimination against mothers and I really urge that the government looks at this seriously and for the National Registration Department to uphold the High Court ruling,” Lee said.
No equal rights on passing citizenship
She noted that Malaysia is one of only 22 countries in the world that do not provide equal rights to mothers and fathers in passing citizenship to their children.
“Even at (Sabeena’s) very last breath, this is on her mind - which is why it’s important for people who have a platform to speak up for her,” said Lee, stressing that this situation could happen to anyone.
“It’s 2022. We (women) should have equal rights as men and the government should have empathy,” she added.
This was echoed by Family Frontiers president Suriani Kempe - who was also present at the tahlil ceremony - who is hoping that the appellate court will reach a verdict that is in the favour of Malaysian women and mothers.
“We saw every mother here today crying, unable to take it because the fear is real.
“Gender-based discrimination is illogical. What is the difference between fathers and mothers?
“It is high time for the government to grant equal rights to both Malaysian men and women, no more no less. We just want equal rights,” Suriani said to reporters.
Although unable to attend the event, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah expressed her sadness over Sabeena’s passing.
“I am saddened by her passing.
“Unfortunately our legal system has no compassion for Malaysian women who had to endure long waiting, pushed from one department to another, made to wait for years and worse, get the rejection - not for any crime that they have committed but for trying to get citizenship for their own children,” Maria told Malaysiakini via Whatsapp text.
She added that such discrimination must be stopped.
“Our laws are meant to protect and not to punish Malaysian women for giving birth overseas.
“The court hearing is coming up and one can only hope that Malaysian women see justice delivered in theirs and their children's lifetimes,” Maria added.
Yesterday’s event was held in conjunction with the #SayaJugaAnakMalaysia campaign and its current campaign #ManaDokumenKami, which is urging the government to respect and comply with the Sept 9, 2021, decision of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Six Malaysian women had sought a declaration that Malaysian women married to foreign spouses can automatically get citizenship for their children born overseas.
The government on Sept 13 last year filed its appeal against the High Court’s decision in the Court of Appeal.
The government will know on June 22 whether it has succeeded in its appeal to deny automatic citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers.
The government previously mounted a failed bid to stay the lower court decision, pending the disposal of its appeal to the Court of Appeal.
It was reported that following the landmark High Court ruling, Malaysian mothers finally succeeded in registering their children as citizens with the National Registration Department.
