UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 13, No. 1 (January) 2022, pp: 345–380 as compared to children of citizens and non-citizens in Malaysia. Many stateless children do not have the right to citizenship, health care and education33. As such several Members of Parliament have urged for a speedier intervention and enforcement of the law 34 by the government of the day35 and to take the necessary measures to overcome the issue of stateless children in Malaysia. In the absence of a clear definition of stateless children in national law and policy, their rights as children cannot be determined and adhered to by the government or NGOs. The rights of children are prescribed as universal human rights that ought to be adhered to by nations, as per the UDHR 1948 and the CRC 1989. The stateless children in Malaysia will continue to be denied their legal rights if their existence is not being acknowledged and their status recognized legally in this country. CONCLUSION There ought to be policies and legal provisions incorporated in the national laws to allow for a systematic identification and definition of stateless children, who otherwise, will remain hidden within the nation. The government may refer to some of the guidelines set by the United Nations and other countries which have established laws and policies pertaining to statelessness. This will ensure that the stateless population is within the legal purview of the nation. Based on these 33 34 35 Hansard Parliament of Malaysia (House of Senate), Penyata Rasmi Parlimen Dewan Negara Parlimen Ketiga Belas Penggal Kelima Mesyuarat Pertama, DN 17.4.2017, BIL.2 dated 17.4.2017. Page 53 http://www.parlimen.gov.my/ files/hindex/pdf/DN-17042017.pdf#page=72&zoom=70&search=stateless%20 children>. Retrieved date: 16.2.2019. Hansard Parliament of Malaysia (House of Representative), Penyata Rasmi Parlimen Dewan Rakyat Parlimen Kedua Belas Penggal Kelima Mesyuarat Ketiga, DR 24.10.2012. BIL. 54, dated 24.10.2012. Page 38. http://www. parlimen.gov.my/files/hindex/pdf/DR-24102012.pdf#page=54&zoom=70&sear ch=stateless%20children>. Retrieved date: 16.2.2019. Hansard Parliament of Malaysia (House of Representative), Penyata Rasmi Parlimen Dewan Rakyat Parlimen Ketiga Belas Penggal Keempat Mesyuarat Pertama, DR 14.3.2016. Bil.5 dated 14.3.2016. Page 14. http://www.parlimen. gov.my/files/hindex/pdf/DR-14032016.pdf#page=102&zoom=70&search=statel ess%20children>. Retrieved date: 16.2.2019. 370