TAWAU: The High Court here, Tuesday, declared two sisters as citizens of Malaysia by operation of law.
It ordered the Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Malaysia, through National Registration Department, to issue each girl citizenship certificate and identification card within 14 days.
The girls, aged 12 and 11 respectively, were born to a Malaysian father and Filipino mother. At the time of their birth in 2012 and 2013, their parents were not married to each other.
Subsequently in 2015, the couples registered their marriage but the marriage did not lift their two daughters out of statelessness.
In 2016, the father applied for citizenship for his daughters but the applications were rejected by National Registration Department. In 2022, a suit was filed by the father for the two girls in the High Court for declaration of citizenship.
Judge Y.A. Dr. Lim Hock Leng in his brief ground of decision held that the girls are citizens of Malaysia under Article 14(1)(b), read with section 1(a) and 1(e) of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
The father and the girls are represented by counsel Liew Hon Min, while the government agencies are represented by the Federal Counsel Fazriel bin Abdul Kadir.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
