Tuesday 18 Feb 2025
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PUTRAJAYA (Feb 15): The Court of Appeal on Tuesday (Feb 15) rejected an appeal by 35-year-old Azimah Hamzah to invalidate the High Court’s decision in March 2020 to dismiss her Malaysian citizenship application despite the fact that Azimah’s parents, who are from Cambodia, are recognised as permanent residents in Malaysia.

In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, the three-member Court of Appeal bench comprising Judges Datuk Gunalan Muniandy, Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera said it is for Azimah to prove as to why she cannot be a Cambodian citizen due to her parents being from Cambodia (but who are recognised as permanent residents in Malaysia).

Justice Vazeer said the Court of Appeal ruled that Azimah failed to discharge her duty in proving her Malaysian citizenship based on the Federal Constitution.

"With this, her appeal is dismissed,” Justice Vazeer said.

Azimah was represented by lawyers N Surendran and Shahid Adli Kamarudin, while senior federal counsel Nik Mohd Noor Nik Kar represented the Malaysian government, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Registration Department.

Justice Vazeer said the Court of Appeal did not find any error in the High Court's findings based on the Federal Constitution.

“Despite this decision [by the Court of Appeal], she (Azimah) can openly apply for [Malaysian] citizenship through naturalisation,” Justice Vazeer explained.

Azimah's parents and older sister became naturalised Malaysian citizens in November 2008 after they were granted permanent resident status in November 1986, while Azimah's four younger siblings became Malaysian citizens as they were born in Malaysia.

When Azimah was 12, she applied for a Malaysian identity card but the National Registration Department rejected her application (in November 1999).

The National Registration Department, however, gave Azimah a green identity card, which is required to be renewed annually.

Surendran, when contacted by theedgemarkets.com, said he had been instructed by his client to file an application for permission to appeal to the Federal Court to invalidate the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Edited ByChong Jin Hun
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