1. ) CHONG KOK WAI 2. ) WEE LEE CHENG v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA 2. ) MENTERI DALAM NEGERI MALAYSIA 3. ) Kerajaan Malaysia

ba-24-5-02-2025 High Court (Mahkamah Tinggi) 15 July 2025 • BA-24-5-02/2025 • 13 min read
10 cases cited (0 SG, 10 foreign)

Catchwords

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Citizenship - 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

Judges (1)

Elaine Yap Chin Gaik Delivered

Counsel (5)

Jabatan Peguam Negara Firm MahWengKwai & Associates Firm Agalya J. Munusamy Counsel Plaintiff Alyssa Dalila Counsel Plaintiff Syahriah Shapiee Counsel Defendant

Parties (5)

KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA Respondent Kerajaan Malaysia Respondent Menteri Dalam Negeri Malaysia Respondent Chong Kok Wai Applicant Wee Lee Cheng Applicant

Case Significance

1. ) CHONG KOK WAI 2. ) WEE LEE CHENG v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTAR... is a High Court (Mahkamah Tinggi) decision dated July 15, 2025 (citation: ba-24-5-02-2025). The case was decided by Elaine Yap Chin Gaik.

What was the outcome of 1. ) CHONG KOK WAI 2. ) WEE LEE CHENG v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTAR...?

1. ) CHONG KOK WAI 2. ) WEE LEE CHENG v 1. ) KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTAR... is a High Court decision dated July 15, 2025. The case was heard by Elaine Yap Chin Gaik. See the full judgment for details.

Statutes Cited

Federal Constitution
Art 15A

Cases Cited (10)

UK (2)
[1936] AC 578 [1979] 3 All ER 21
MY (8)
[1976] 2 MLJ 116 [1981] 1 MLJ 29 [1981] 2 MLJ 356 [2008] 3 MLJ 625 [2017] 3 MLJ 308 [2018] 6 MLJ 548 [2021] 4 MLJ 236 [2021] MLJU 2321

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Malaysia Courts portal.

Read on eJudgment

Source: eJudgment (ba-24-5-02-2025)