Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Legitimacy

Legal area

Court

3 Jul 2024

1. ) M.P.P.L. 2. ) H.Y.S.L. C.A.S.

Citation

02(f)-49-08/2023(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Court

f
Case number

02(f)-49-08/2023(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)

Appeal allowed and lower courts' orders for compelled DNA testing set aside because the conclusive presumption of legitimacy under s.112 EA remains operative absent a showing of 'no access', s.4(3) EA bars admitting evidence to rebut legitimacy in judicial proceedings except as permitted, there is no statutory power to compel DNA testing in civil proceedings, and the parens patriae jurisdiction cannot be exercised to order such invasive testing where it would not be demonstrably in the child's best interests; on the facts ordering a DNA test would harm the child and was therefore unjustified.
3 Jul 2024

1. ) M. P. P. L. 2. ) H. Y. S. L. XXXX

Citation

02(f)-49-08/2023(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Court

f
Case number

02(f)-49-08/2023(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)

Appeal allowed: the Federal Court held that on these facts a court should not compel a DNA test. The presumption of legitimacy under s.112 Evidence Act 1950 remains operative in judicial proceedings where a registered husband is the legal father and no cogent proof of "no access" is shown; s.4(3) EA operates to bar evidence to rebut that presumption in such circumstances. The court lacks statutory power to compel DNA testing in civil proceedings absent express legislation; parens patriae powers are protective and limited and must be exercised only when necessary for the child's welfare — here…
15 Dec 2022

PEMPETISYEN S K Y Peguam Negara

Citation

WA-34-4-05/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-34-4-05/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Where a petitioner seeks legitimisation of a child born out of wedlock, the birth certificate is not conclusive proof of biological parentage because Section 13 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act permits the father's name to appear by acknowledgement; Legitimacy Act Section 5 authorises the Attorney General to oppose and for the Court to require verification of facts, including DNA. Therefore the Deputy Registrar was entitled to order production of a DNA report and the appeal against that order was dismissed.
21 Jul 2022

1. ) Chong Chian How 2. ) Chong Wan Ying 1. ) Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia

Citation

WA-25-243-07/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-25-243-07/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The application failed because applicants did not prove requirement (iii) of s 1(e) — that CWY was not born a citizen of any country. Adoption could not alter citizenship at birth for s 1(a) per CTEB; respondents demonstrated under Indonesian law that CWY is an Indonesian citizen via her biological mother; applicants failed to provide decisive documentary proof (eg. confirmation from Indonesian authorities) to rebut that assertion, therefore the judicial review application must be dismissed.
24 May 2022

1. ) KETUA PENDAFTARAN KELAHIRAN DAN KEMATIAN MALAYSIA 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 1. ) Chew Chia Chia (Menuntut Melalui Chew Kean Yew (No. Kp: 750201-07-5387) 2. ) Chew Chia Ching (Menuntut Melalui Chew Kean Yew (No. Kp: 750201-07-5

Citation

P-01(A)-322-06/2021 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

A
Case number

P-01(A)-322-06/2021 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

The court was bound by the Federal Court majority in CTEB: legitimacy for the purposes of citizenship by operation of law is determined at the time of birth; subsequent legitimation or registration of marriage does not alter the child's birth status for Article 14(1)(b) purposes; therefore the High Court declarations based on a contrary premise were set aside and the appeals allowed.
24 May 2022

1. ) PEGUAM NEGARA MALAYSIA 2. ) KETUA PENDAFTARAN KELAHIRAN DAN KEMATIAN MALAYSIA Go Fu Seng

Citation

P-01(A)-321-06/2021 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

A
Case number

P-01(A)-321-06/2021 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

The Court allowed the appeals, holding that legitimacy for purposes of acquisition of citizenship by operation of law under Article 14(1)(b) must be determined at the time of birth; subsequent legitimation or registration of parents' marriage and orders under the Legitimacy Act 1961 do not alter the child's birth status for constitutional qualification, and an illegitimate child follows the mother's citizenship pursuant to s.17 Part III; the Court was bound by the Federal Court majority in CTEB and set aside the High Court declarations.
1 Mar 2022

1. ) LOH MUN HOE 2. ) LOH KAI HENG 3. ) LOH KAI XUAN 1. ) PENDAFTAR BESAR KELAHIRAN DAN KEMATIAN JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA MALAYSIA 2. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 3. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 4. ) Kerajaan Malaysia

Citation

WA-25-41-02/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-25-41-02/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Applicants established a prima facie case that the 2nd and 3rd were born in the Federation and were not born citizens of any other country within the meaning of s1(e), respondents' omission to reply was reviewable, citizenship by operation of law does not require exhaustion of the prescribed administrative form, and therefore the court declared the 2nd and 3rd applicants Malaysian citizens under art 14(1)(b) read with s1(e) and issued mandamus to provide identity documents denoting 'WARGANEGARA'.
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)

Section 13A BDRA, which permits insertion of a 'surname', is inapplicable to Malay Muslims who do not use hereditary surnames; the DGNR may lawfully take into account the applicable Islamic personal law when registering births of Muslims and may refuse to ascribe an illegitimate Muslim child to his biological father where state Islamic law prohibits such ascription; however the DGNR had no legal basis to impose the National Fatwa requiring 'bin Abdullah' in Johor without the fatwa being adopted and gazetted by the Johor authority; the notation 'Permohonan Seksyen 13' is a factual record and n…