The Malaysian cabinet plans to table a bundle of constitutional amendments in the year-end parliamentary session. One amendment would allow children born abroad to Malaysian mothers to access citizenship, but five changes run the risk of perpetuating statelessness. What is going on? What do the amendments entail? What is at stake?

Author Archives: Xiao Ming Tang
Tang Xiao Ming is a illustrator based in Selangor, Malaysia. His work portrays interesting and quirky characters in surreal states, injecting an emotional quality into his style to connect with his viewers. His works can be found at www.imtxm.com or instagram @imtxm. Reach him at xiaomingtxm@hotmail.com
Explainer II: “The Political Decision is to Release Them”: The 12-Year Struggle to End Child Immigration Detention in Malaysia
New Naratif’s two-part explainer looks into the issue of child immigration detention in Malaysia. Building on the first article, this explainer examines the Home Affairs Minister’s announcement that he will release children from detention centres, the historical struggle to end child detention, the forces hindering change, and the steps government, civil society, and readers can take towards protecting all children regardless of migration status.
Explainer I: “Don’t Come Back, Soldiers Are Here”: Children in Malaysia’s Immigration Detention Centres
Seen as violators of Malaysia’s immigration laws, undocumented children in Malaysia are constantly at risk of arrest, indefinite detention, and life-threatening deportation. Who are the children in detention? Why are they detained? How long? What harm does it cause? How much does detention cost taxpayers?
The Higher Education Labyrinth for Refugee Learners in Peninsular Malaysia
The issue of primary and secondary school access for refugee learners in Peninsular Malaysia has received some public attention. But with a minority of refugees arriving or graduating with secondary school diplomas, an equally important question to ask is: What comes next?
NN Explains: Rights and What You Ought to Have
What are human rights, and why do we need them to live together? Who do they apply to? This comic by Xiao Ming Tang takes a closer look at the issue.