Round-the-clock breaking news from Malaysia.
A Court of Appeal decision has reignited debate over Malaysia's citizenship laws, which deny nationality to children born outside wedlock to foreign mothers—even when DNA confirms paternity and the children have grown up entirely in Malaysia.
Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister Dr Zulkifli Hasan has highlighted the critical dangers of unregistered marriages, cautioning that children face complications obtaining birth certificates and accessing education and healthcare.
The Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia has emphasised that quality childcare must go beyond basic physical care to protect children's rights, dignity and emotional wellbeing as outlined in international conventions.