Children SUHAKAM observed that violations and neglect of children’s rights continue to persist in Malaysia. This year, issues that have re-emerged related to stateless children, asylumseeking and refugee children, street children, children in detention as well as cases of child abuse, exploitation and child marriage. 1. Citizenship During the year, SUHAKAM received 413 complaints from undocumented children or parents whose application for citizenship for their children were denied by National Registration Department (NRD) for various inconsistencies with the law. It has been estimated that as of April 2018, around 2,5004 stateless children are waiting for proper documentation in Malaysia. SUHAKAM believes the number of stateless children in Malaysia is much larger with higher numbers in Sabah that are predominantly caused by the influx of foreign migrants who went on to have children in Malaysia. Due to their own immigration status, parents fail to register births with the NRD. During a roundtable on 11 July on “Statelessness in Sabah”, participants linked the issue to street children who were also beggars, and whose numbers have significantly increased in the state. 4 The Star Online, “The State of Statelessness”, The Star Online (1 April 2018) <https://www.thestar.com.my/news/ nation/2018/04/01/the-state-of-statelessness-for-those-born-in-malaysia-but-without-a-citizenship-their-life-is-left-i/> accessed 2 January 2019