Understanding Dual Nationalities and Its Implications

Dual nationality occurs when an individual holds citizenship in more than one country. While some nations permit this status, others, like Malaysia, do not recognize it. However, enforcement can be complex, especially when individuals use alternative passports to circumvent entry restrictions. For instance, the Maldives, which recently banned Israeli passport holders amid the Gaza conflict, still allows dual nationals to enter using non-Israeli documents . This approach can inadvertently permit entry to individuals from prohibited countries if they possess multiple citizenships.

To Ensure a Safe and Secure Malaysia

Enhances national security by preventing entry of dangerous individuals who have been known to willingly participate in an ongoing genocide.

Malaysia’s Legal Foundation

Malaysia, has a robust legal basis to enforce such a ban as signatories to various international and regional treaties including:

• The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War; and
• The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration which affirms the rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This ban would reinforce Malaysia’s commitment to the prevention of genocide and other war crimes, the preservation of human rights and other universal principles that serve to protect persons regardless of religion, nationality  or ethnic origin, principles enshrined in numerous international treaties and that should be honoured  whether or not we are a signatory to those treaties.

Malaysia’s Moral Imperative

As a nation that values peace and harmony, Malaysia has a moral duty to prevent war criminals from crossing our borders. Implementing this ban would affirm our stance against impunity and demonstrate our solidarity with victims of war crimes, reflecting our cultural values of justice and compassion.

Practical Benefits to Malaysia

• Strengthens Malaysia’s leadership role in international cooperation against impunity, demonstrating our commitment to global justice.
• Serves as deterrent to potential perpetrators.

By making war crimes costly not just morally, but financially, socially, and diplomatically.

We can create a strong personal deterrent where young IDF conscripts and officers will have to ask themselves:

“Is serving Israel worth losing access to the world?”

Malaysia, standing firm in its legal tradition and moral clarity, can lead the way by building an umbrella of protection for victims and a storm of consequences for perpetrators.