{
  "id": 13998834,
  "title": "Children of Malay Muslims married to Muslim foreigners can be registered as Malays, says Saifuddin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/children-of-malay-muslims-married-to-muslim-foreigners-can-be-13998834",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T15:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/12/children-of-malay-muslims-married-to-muslim-foreigners-can-be-registered-as-malays-says-saifuddin"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that children of Malay Muslims married to Muslim foreigners can be registered as Malays, though this is not an automatic process. During a parliamentary reply, he clarified that the foreign spouse is not automatically considered a Malay. Saifuddin also emphasized that the national registration department does not hold the authority to determine if someone qualifies as a Bumiputera or enjoys the rights and privileges outlined in the Federal Constitution. The definition of a Malay, according to the constitution, includes professing Islam, speaking Malay, adhering to Malay customs, and meeting specific criteria related to birth or residence in the federation prior to Merdeka Day.",
  "summary": "The home minister says parents can alternatively register their children according to the foreign parent's ancestry.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Children of Malay Muslims married to Muslim foreigners can be registered as Malays, says Saifuddin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/children-of-malay-muslims-married-to-muslim-foreigners-can-be",
        "published": "2026-10-12T15:25:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}