Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Legitimacy and paternity

Legal area

Court

23 Oct 2025

MAJLIS AGAMA ISLAM SELANGOR 1. ) NIVETHAH A/P THAMAYANDIRAN 2. ) SWETHA A/P THAMAYANDIRAN

Citation

B-01(NCvC)(A)-100-02/2024 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

NCvC
Case number

B-01(NCvC)(A)-100-02/2024 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

Section 2(1)(b) ARIE 2003 can apply to illegitimate persons but, where illegitimacy prevents ascription of paternity under s111 IFLE 2003, the word "parents" effectively refers to the mother; here the respondents' maternal lineage established their mother and grandmother were Muslims at relevant times, thus respondents were Muslims at birth under s2(1)(b); the reliefs sought in the Civil Court constituted renunciation claims (declarations that they are no longer Muslims) which fall within Syariah Court jurisdiction under Article 121(1A) and ARIE 2003, so the High Court's declarations were mad…
13 Feb 2020

Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Ketua Pengarah Pendaftaran Negara Kerajaan Malaysia Seorang Kanak-Kanak M.E.M.K. N.A.W. PENCELAH Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Johor

Citation

01(f)-43-09/2017(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Court

f
Case number

01(f)-43-09/2017(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)

The Registrar acted beyond statutory authority by substituting an unrelated conventional 'Bin Abdullah' instead of the actual acknowledged father's name; 'surname' under s13A BDRA includes patronymic surnames and federal registration law governs the naming; reliance on fatwas or State Islamic law cannot override or displace the BDRA in the exercise of the Registrar's federal administrative function; consequent refusal under s27(3) was unlawful and required correction.

Malaysia Case Law

MAJLIS AGAMA ISLAM SELANGOR 1. ) NIVETHAH A/P THAMAYANDIRAN 2. ) SWETHA A/P THAMAYANDIRAN

Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Ketua Pengarah Pendaftaran Negara Kerajaan Malaysia Seorang Kanak-Kanak M.E.M.K. N.A.W. PENCELAH Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Johor