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A RESTAURANT assistant is celebrating after his 40-year legal battle to obtain Malaysian citizenship was finally successful.
This comes after the defendants, the National Registration Department (NRD) of Malaysia, the Director-General of the NRD and the Malaysian Government, withdrew their appeal filed last year to overturn the Penang High Court's decision.
Previously, Mohd Razwil Abdullah, 41,'s application to obtain a new birth certificate and citizen-level identity card was granted by Penang High Court Judge Datuk Quay Chew Soon on November 14 last year.
In the decision, the defendant was ordered to issue a Malaysian birth certificate and identity card reflecting that status.
However, after the decision was made, the defendant filed an appeal to overturn the decision.
According to Mohd Razwil's lawyer, Datuk Habib Rahman Seeni Mohideen, the decision to withdraw the appeal was made this morning.
"Today we came to court to hear the decision of the defendant's appeal but I was told that they had withdrawn the appeal.
"The decision was made before the Court of Appeal held a special sitting which was supposed to be held this morning.
"Therefore, the decision of the Penang High Court made last November remains, which is that my client is eligible to obtain a Malaysian birth certificate and identity card issued by the NRD," he said when met at the Penang High Court premises.
According to him, the case, which was filed on April 8 last year, was resolved after the defendant withdrew the appeal.
Razwil, 41, expressed deep gratitude, saying his prayers had finally been answered.
He thanked the Malaysian government, the Home Ministry and the Attorney-General's Chambers for withdrawing the appeal. - November 25, 2025
