1. ) MOHD ZAI BIN MUSTAFA 2. ) Zainal Abidin Bin Borhan (Bagi Pihak Gabungan Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (Gapena)) (Amelda Fuad Abi & Aidil) 1. ) MENTERI PENDIDIKAN MALAYSIA 2. ) Kerajaan Malaysia

1. ) MOHD ZAI BIN MUSTAFA 2. ) Zainal Abidin Bin Borhan (Bagi Pihak Gabungan Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (Gapena)) (Amelda Fuad Abi & Aidil) 1. ) MENTERI PENDIDIKAN MALAYSIA 2. ) Kerajaan Malaysia

Vernacular/national-type schools are not "public authorities" within art.160(2) and therefore use of Tamil and Chinese as media of instruction in such schools is not an "official purpose" prohibited by art.152(6); furthermore art.152(1)(b) preserves and sustains languages used immediately prior to Merdeka, so ss.2,17,28 of the Education Act 1996 are not unconstitutional; Order 14A was appropriate to decide the pure questions of law; consequently the substantive appeals fail.

Citation
W-01(IM)(NCvC)-59-01/2022 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Parties
Appellant: Mohd Zai bin Mustafa; Appellant: Zainal Abidin bin Borhan; Appellant: Aminuddin bin Yahaya; Appellant: Mohd Azizee bin Hasan; Appellant: Mohd Alif Anas bin Md Noor; Respondent: Menteri Pendidikan Malaysia; Respondent: Kerajaan Malaysia; Respondent: Ong Kow Ee @ Ong Chiow Chue; Respondent: Tan Tai Kim; Respondent: Datuk Chong Sin Voon; Respondent: Dominic Lau Hoe Chai; Respondent: M Asojan Muniyandy; Respondent: Heng Hong Chai; Respondent: Sekolah Menengah Persendirian Chong Hwa Kuala Lumpur; Respondent: Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA)
Court
IM
Jurisdiction
Malaysia
Judgment Date
23 November 2023
Case Number
W-01(IM)(NCvC)-59-01/2022 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment (court of Appeal)
Outcome
All appeals dismissed except Appeal No. 458 which was allowed; parties to bear their own costs.
Legal Topics
Language Policy, Vernacular Schools, Justiciability, Locus Standi, Statutory Interpretation, Public Authority
Source Language
Malay/English
Constitutional Law Administrative Law Education Law Public Law Language Policy Vernacular Schools Justiciability Locus Standi +2 more

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Parties

Mohd Zai bin Mustafa

Appellant

Zainal Abidin bin Borhan

Appellant

Aminuddin bin Yahaya

Appellant

Mohd Azizee bin Hasan

Appellant

Mohd Alif Anas bin Md Noor

Appellant

Menteri Pendidikan Malaysia

Respondent

Kerajaan Malaysia

Respondent

Ong Kow Ee @ Ong Chiow Chue

Respondent

Tan Tai Kim

Respondent

Datuk Chong Sin Voon

Respondent

Dominic Lau Hoe Chai

Respondent

M Asojan Muniyandy

Respondent

Heng Hong Chai

Respondent

Sekolah Menengah Persendirian Chong Hwa Kuala Lumpur

Respondent

Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA)

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment (court of Appeal)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether vernacular/national-type schools are "public authorities" under art.160(2)
  2. 2 Whether use of Tamil or Chinese as medium of instruction is an "official purpose" under art.152(6)
  3. 3 Whether ss.2,17,28 Education Act 1996 are inconsistent with art.152(1)

Ratio Decidendi

Vernacular/national-type schools are not "public authorities" within art.160(2) and therefore use of Tamil and Chinese as media of instruction in such schools is not an "official purpose" prohibited by art.152(6); furthermore art.152(1)(b) preserves and sustains languages used immediately prior to Merdeka, so ss.2,17,28 of the Education Act 1996 are not unconstitutional; Order 14A was appropriate to decide the pure questions of law; consequently the substantive appeals fail.

Court Disposition

All appeals dismissed except Appeal No. 458 which was allowed; parties to bear their own costs.

Orders

  • Appeals Nos. 59, 60, 61, 64, 65 and 402 dismissed
  • Appeal No. 682 dismissed (Order 14A procedure appropriate)