CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Citizenship
10 cases · March 2025 to December 2025
Key Issues & Sub-Topics
by operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — burden of proof — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — burden of proof 3 By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 17 of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Plaintiffs born to Malaysian father and Indonesian mother-parents were not in a legal relationship at time of birth-marriage was registered after birth — whether one of the parents in section 1(a) can include biological father-whether Federal Court case of CCH has overruled the majority decision of CTEB-whether requirement of jus sanguinis satisfied by the fact of the Plaintiffs’ biological father being a Malaysian citizen 1 By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 19B of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — mother delivered in Taj Hospital-brought home by 1st Plaintiff and her husband- the identity of biological mother unknown-birth certificate issued stating them as parents- -whether on the facts the presumption can be invoked -whether expansive meaning to be given to baby found exposed and fact of abandonment 1 By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 19B of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — whether evidence supports fact of ‘a newly born found exposed’ to invoke presumption under section 19B-Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) read with section 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — whether requirement of jus sanguinis satisfied if identity of biological parents unknown 1 By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 19B of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) read with section 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Adoption Act 1952 — Whether adoption confers citizenship. 1 Adopted child — Citizenship by operation of law — Child born to an Indonesian mother and unknown father later adopted by Malaysian parents — Indonesian mother failed to register the child birth under Indonesian Law — Automatic Indonesian citizenship — Whether child stateless at time of birth — Concept of jus soli and jus sanguinis — Interpretation of ‘born a citizen’ in Section 1(e) — Whether ‘born a citizen’ refers solely to the nationality of the birth mother or to state recognition of such status and the vesting of rights — Article 14(1)(b) Federal Constitution — Section 1(a) and (e), 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule — Section 17 and 19B in Part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution 1 By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Section 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Federal Constitution –Section 19B of Part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Legitimate Expectation — Article 19 of the Federal Constitution 1 by operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Whether adoption by citizens can confer citizenship — Adoption Act 1952 1
by operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — burden of proof — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — burden of proof 3 cases
wa-24-24-02-2024 MOHAMAD AMIRUL GAN [Perayu adalah bawah umur dan diwakili oleh Bapa sebagai wakil litigasi GAN KER HUI (MOHAMMAD FADHLI GAN ABDULLAH) (NAMA ISLAM) (No. K/P: 680117-01- 5989/HA0990511) v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN DALAM NEGERI 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
16 April 2025
wa-24-66-09-2023 DARWIN A/L KANAGA SUNTHARAM v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH PENDAFTARAN NEGARA, MALAYSIA 2. ) KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN DALAM NEGERI 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
15 April 2025
wa-24-95-12-2023 Janice Tan Bee Yoke v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH PENDAFTARAN NEGARA, MALAYSIA 2. ) KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN DALAM NEGERI 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
18 March 2025
By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 17 of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Plaintiffs born to Malaysian father and Indonesian mother-parents were not in a legal relationship at time of birth-marriage was registered after birth — whether one of the parents in section 1(a) can include biological father-whether Federal Court case of CCH has overruled the majority decision of CTEB-whether requirement of jus sanguinis satisfied by the fact of the Plaintiffs’ biological father being a Malaysian citizen 1 case
By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 19B of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — mother delivered in Taj Hospital-brought home by 1st Plaintiff and her husband- the identity of biological mother unknown-birth certificate issued stating them as parents- -whether on the facts the presumption can be invoked -whether expansive meaning to be given to baby found exposed and fact of abandonment 1 case
By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 19B of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — whether evidence supports fact of ‘a newly born found exposed’ to invoke presumption under section 19B-Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) read with section 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — whether requirement of jus sanguinis satisfied if identity of biological parents unknown 1 case
By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II and section 19B of part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) read with section 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Adoption Act 1952 — Whether adoption confers citizenship. 1 case
Adopted child — Citizenship by operation of law — Child born to an Indonesian mother and unknown father later adopted by Malaysian parents — Indonesian mother failed to register the child birth under Indonesian Law — Automatic Indonesian citizenship — Whether child stateless at time of birth — Concept of jus soli and jus sanguinis — Interpretation of ‘born a citizen’ in Section 1(e) — Whether ‘born a citizen’ refers solely to the nationality of the birth mother or to state recognition of such status and the vesting of rights — Article 14(1)(b) Federal Constitution — Section 1(a) and (e), 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule — Section 17 and 19B in Part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution 1 case
By operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Section 2(3) of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Federal Constitution –Section 19B of Part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Legitimate Expectation — Article 19 of the Federal Constitution 1 case
by operation of law — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(a) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Article 14(1)(b) read with section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution — Burden of proof — Whether adoption by citizens can confer citizenship — Adoption Act 1952 1 case
Key Statutes
Federal Constitution
cited in 3 cases Evidence Act 1950 (Cap 56)
cited in 1 case Births
Deaths and Registration Act 1957
cited in 1 case Court Distribution
Key People & Firms
Cases
wa-24-27-04-2023
1. ) FRANCIS D NETTO 2. ) NANCY D NETTO v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
7 December 2025
MYHC
wa-24-69-07-2024
1. ) B Muniamal Usha a/p V Balakrishnan 2. ) Calvin Joshua a/l Jonny Suresh v 1. ) Pengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
7 December 2025
MYHC
wa-24-19-03-2023
1. ) ALAN KNOWLES 2. ) ALEXANDRA FRANCES MARY KNOWLES v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
27 November 2025
MYHC
wa-24-35-03-2024
1. ) LEANG KAH KIT 2. ) TAI SOK POH v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
24 August 2025
MYHC
ba-24-5-02-2025
1. ) CHONG KOK WAI 2. ) WEE LEE CHENG v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
15 July 2025
MYHC
wa-25-176-04-2024
VELMURUGAN v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
18 May 2025
MYHC
wa-24-24-02-2024
MOHAMAD AMIRUL GAN [Perayu adalah bawah umur dan diwakili oleh Bapa sebagai wakil litigasi GAN KER HUI (MOHAMMAD FADHLI GAN ABDULLAH) (NAMA ISLAM) (No. K/P: 680117-01- 5989/HA0990511) v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN DALAM NEGERI 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
16 April 2025
MYHC
wa-24-66-09-2023
DARWIN A/L KANAGA SUNTHARAM v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH PENDAFTARAN NEGARA, MALAYSIA 2. ) KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN DALAM NEGERI 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
15 April 2025
MYHC
wa-24-76-10-2023
GLORYA A/P KUPPA v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
6 April 2025
MYHC
wa-24-95-12-2023
Janice Tan Bee Yoke v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH PENDAFTARAN NEGARA, MALAYSIA 2. ) KETUA SETIAUSAHA KEMENTERIAN DALAM NEGERI 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia
18 March 2025
MYHC