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

01f-43-09-2017w Federal Court (Mahkamah Persekutuan) 12 February 2020 • 01(f)-43-09/2017(W)

Catchwords

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Judicial review - Challenge against decision of Director General of National Registration (‘DGNR’) - Application by Malay Muslim illegitimate child - Application to enter name of father of child in child’s Birth Register - DGNR issued child’s birth certificate and entered child’s full name with ‘bin Abdullah’ instead of ‘bin’ father’s name - Application to correct child’s name from ‘bin Abdullah’ to ‘bin’ father’s name dismissed by DGNR - Whether DGNR’s refusal to correct or alter particulars ‘bin Abdullah’ to be substituted with ‘bin’ father’s name in Birth Register made in accordance with law - Whether s. 13A of Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (‘BDRA’) applies to registration of births of Muslim children - Whether enabling child to be named with personal name of person acknowledged to be father of child - Whether ‘surname’ in s. 13A of BDRA includes patronymic surnames - Whether Malays have surnames CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Fundamental liberties - Personal liberty - Challenge against decision of Director General of National Registration (‘DGNR’) - Application by Malay Muslim illegitimate child - Application to enter name of father of child in child’s Birth Register - DGNR issued child’s birth certificate and entered child’s full name with ‘bin Abdullah’ instead of ‘bin’ father’s name - Child’s birth certificate contained notation ‘Permohonan Seksyen 13’ as acknowledgment of registration of birth for illegitimate child - Whether entry of ‘bin Abdullah’ and notation ‘Permohonan Seksyen 13’ in child’s birth certificate infringed child’s fundamental liberties ISLAMIC LAW: Legislation - Islamic law of State - Challenge against decision of Director General of National Registration (‘DGNR’) - Application by Malay Muslim illegitimate child - Application to enter name of father of child in child’s Birth Register - DGNR issued child’s birth certificate and entered child’s full name with ‘bin Abdullah’ instead of ‘bin’ father’s name - Child’s birth certificate contained notation ‘Permohonan Seksyen 13’ as acknowledgment of registration of birth for illegitimate child - DGNR relied on fatwa by National Fatwa Committee (‘NFC’) in arriving at decision - Whether, in performing registration of births of Muslim children, Registrar of Births and Deaths may refer to and rely on sources of Islamic law on legitimacy - Whether DGNR could rely on fatwa by NFC when child is subjected to Islamic laws of State - Whether illegitimate Muslim child could be ascribed to name of father in Islam - Islamic Family Law (State of Johor) Enactment 2003, ss. 52 & 111

Practice Areas

Administrative Law Islamic Law Constitutional Law

Judges (7)

Abang Iskandar bin Abang Hashim Coram Azahar bin Mohamed Coram Idrus bin Harun Coram Mohd Zawawi bin Salleh Coram Nallini Pathmanathan Coram Panglima David Wong Dak Wah Coram Rohana binti Yusuf Delivered

Parties (3)

Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Ketua Pengarah Pendaftaran Negara Kerajaan Malaysia Appellant Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Johor Intervener Seorang Kanak-kanak M.e.m.k. N.a.w Respondent

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Malaysia Courts portal.

Read on eJudgment

Source: eJudgment (01f-43-09-2017w)