KUALA LUMPUR: The debate on the bill to amend the Federal Constitution with regards to citizenship laws will only take place in the next parliamentary session in June.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 was supposed to be debated and passed in the current Dewan Rakyat sitting.
On Tuesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail tabled the bill for first reading and said it would continue its second and third reading in the same sitting.
However, after the second reading was completed today, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul announced that the session had ended.
Earlier, Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) sought to raise a motion to refer the bill to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) for further review.
Johari said that the decision on the motion would be decided after the second reading.
However, the motion was not raised by Hassan after the second reading was completed.
The bill has come under scrutiny from various quarters over its possible impact on vulnerable groups.
The government has already dropped two provisions from the proposed amendments that relate to citizenship for foundlings.
Previously, Saifuddin said the bill is aimed at improving the citizenship application process and is not intended to deny anyone citizenship.
He also said amendments to the law must be treated with caution and carried out carefully to safeguard the country's security and sovereignty.
