Left in Limbo: The Struggle for Citizenship for the “Overseas-Born” Is Not Over

By Emilia Ong

July 2024 FEATURE
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The author as a baby and her mother.
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AND NOW HERE we are,” Amelia Tai is saying. She pauses, sighing a little. “He’s turning three in June, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m powerless.”She is talking about the situation facing her second, Levi: being born in the UK, he is not automatically entitled to Malaysian citizenship. This is the case both in spite of Amelia’s efforts and of the fact that Amelia herself is Malaysian. Like thousands of Malaysian women who have given birth abroad, her gender...

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Emilia Ong

is a writer, journalist and former English teacher. She is currently seeking to relocate to Penang permanently.

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