Success Stories

Pugios

Pugios is a single mother who gave birth to her child in Australia. She divorced her ex-husband in Australia and with limited options, Pugios had no choice but to apply for her daughter’s citizenship through her father, which is Chinese citizenship, in order to bring her daughter back to Malaysia. Although her daughter’s Chinese passport was issued in Australia, her daughter has never set foot in China. Officials from the Chinese Embassy informed her that they have the right to revoke her daughter’s passport in 2026, its expiry date, because she has never lived in or visited China as a Chinese citizen. Pugios also bears the responsibility of caring for her aging parents as the eldest child.

After waiting for seven years, Pugios’ child has successfully obtained Malaysian citizenship in 2024.

Aini

Aini is a Malaysian mother of two special needs children, one of whom is not a citizen, while the other is. Because her daughter does not have Malaysian citizenship, Aini cannot access affordable healthcare, as her daughter is not eligible for an OKU (Persons with Disabilities) card. As a result, her daughter’s therapy sessions are more expensive compared to the fees for her citizen child.

After waiting for 4 years, Aini’s daughter has successfully obtained Malaysian citizenship in 2023.

Anieza

Anieza is a Malaysian single mother with three daughters living in Malaysia, two of whom are non-citizens. Since the divorce, she has been raising her children on her own while balancing a full-time job and dealing with bureaucratic challenges in applying for visas, citizenship, education, and healthcare. Her non-citizen children have also been denied various opportunities at school, including scholarships and PTPTN loans.

After waiting for 14 years, Anieza’s two daughters have successfully obtained Malaysian citizenship in 2023.

Mashithah

Mashithah is a Malaysian mother of five children; four of them are citizens, while her fourth child, born abroad, was stateless because they could not inherit their father’s citizenship. She gave birth to her child overseas while visiting her in-laws. Before her trip, she checked with the National Registration Department (JPN) and was informed that her child would still be able to obtain citizenship even if born abroad. However, this right was not upheld when she contacted the Malaysian embassy after giving birth.

After waiting for four years, Mashithah’s child has successfully obtained Malaysian citizenship in 2023.

Marina

Marina binti Abdullah and her husband married overseas, where their two sons were born. After registering their marriage in Malaysia in 2002, they lived overseas to manage the family business and care for elderly parents. In 2013, they returned to Malaysia for a better future for their children. Her sons enrolled in government schools, and she applied for their Malaysian citizenship in 2014 under Article 15(2), but both applications were rejected in 2018 and 2019. This situation has left Marina and her family deeply worried about her sons’ fate and their potential separation.

After waiting for 10 years, both of them have gotten Malaysian citizenship in 2024.

Li Li

Li Li, a Malaysian mother living in Milan, gave birth to her child in Italy in 2017 after being advised not to travel due to a previous miscarriage. Although she was initially told by the Malaysian Embassy that her child could be registered for Malaysian citizenship, she later learned that her child had to follow her father’s citizenship. With the citizenship application left unresolved, Li Li’s child had to take on her father’s nationality. After a divorce, Li Li struggled as a single mother, especially during the pandemic. She even turned down repatriation to Malaysia, fearing her daughter’s legal status.

After 7 years of waiting, Li Li has since successfully obtained citizenship for her daughter in 2024.

Priscilla

Priscilla, a Malaysian mother of three, struggles to raise her two non-citizen daughters after divorcing in 2015 and returning to Malaysia. She faces bureaucratic challenges in securing their citizenship, including frequent visits to the national registration department and managing visa renewals. The financial burden of private schooling and health insurance adds to her stress. Now battling worsening breast cancer, Priscilla fears she may not live long enough to secure her daughters’ citizenship and worries about their future without her.

After waiting for 8 years, Priscilla has since successfully obtained citizenship for her daughters in 2023.

Rozita

A lecturer at a public university, Rozita faced many challenges due to Malaysia’s unequal citizenship laws. Her daughter, Khadijah, had her school placement at a public school delayed because she was a non-citizen. She had to renew Khadijah’s permit annually, dealing with long waits, lost documents, and frequent visits to the immigration office, which has impacted her work performance. Despite being unaware of the complications of marrying a foreigner, she was frustrated with the lack of understanding from authorities and questions the rationale behind the citizenship laws that treat her children differently based on where they were born.

After waiting for 7 years, Rozita has since successfully obtained citizenship for her daughter in 2023.

Shahlina

Shahlina, a Malaysian woman, met her husband from Brazil while working as a flight attendant. They registered their marriage in Malaysia but later learned that their child would face difficulties obtaining Malaysian citizenship if born abroad. They frequently visited Malaysia but were separated due to pandemic restrictions, resulting in Shahlina giving birth alone in Malaysia while her husband could not enter the country. Unfortunately, her baby passed away 72 hours later. In April 2022, Shahlina discovered she was pregnant again and tried to return to Malaysia to give birth. Given her past experience, her doctor refused to authorise travel, deeming her unfit to travel. Consequently, she gave birth abroad and was unable to obtain citizenship for her child by operation of law.

After applying for citizenship, Shahlina has since successfully obtained citizenship for her daughter in 2024.

Leanne

Leanne, currently residing in Sabah, is married with two children who were born in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she and her husband were working. Her firstborn received Malaysian citizenship at age three after Leanne applied for it through the Malaysian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. However, her second-born daughter had been waiting for citizenship since 2013. Leanne was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety about her daughter’s future, especially concerning healthcare costs, visa renewals, and the possibility of being separated from her. The situation was further compounded by the fact that her husband was living in Indonesia for work to support the family.

After waiting for 10 years, Leanne’s daughter has finally obtained citizenship in 2023.