In October, the Parliament of Malaysia passed controversial amendments to the constitution’s citizenship provisions via a Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024. According to critics, the bill is a case of one step forward, a few unnecessary steps backward. While the bill seeks to grant citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian women, it also includes a whole host of regressive amendments which will worsen conditions for other categories of stateless people in Malaysia. This move was the last straw for Yap Xiang, who resigned in protest as vice-chief of PKR’s student wing Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia. The student wing had previously rallied with other NGOs against the regressive provisions of the bill outside Parliament in March. Yap Xiang, who’s also a member of Borneo Komrad, joins us in conversation.



Image credit: Shutterstock

In October, the Parliament of Malaysia passed controversial amendments to the constitution’s citizenship provisions via a Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024. According to critics, the bill is a case of one step forward, a few unnecessary steps backward. While the bill seeks to grant citizenship to overseas-born children of Malaysian women, it also includes a whole host of regressive amendments which will worsen conditions for other categories of stateless people in Malaysia. This move was the last straw for Yap Xiang, who resigned in protest as vice-chief of PKR’s student wing Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia. The student wing had previously rallied with other NGOs against the regressive provisions of the bill outside Parliament in March. Yap Xiang, who’s also a member of Borneo Komrad, joins us in conversation.Image credit: Shutterstock

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. 
On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.

Beyond the Ballot Box

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we speak to politicians and analysts and explore burning issues and questions surrounding our fluid and ever-changing political scene.

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we speak to politicians and analysts and explore burning issues and questions surrounding our fluid and ever-changing political scene.

Advertisement