SITI NUR AIN SULAIMAN v. MAJLIS UGAMA ISLAM DAN ADAT RESAM MELAYU PAHANG & ANOR
COURT OF APPEAL, PUTRAJAYA
CHE MOHD RUZIMA GHAZALI JCA
WONG KHIAN KHEONG JCA
AZHAHARI KAMAL RAMLI JCA
[CIVIL APPEAL NO: C-01(NCVC)(A)-118-03-2023]
29 SEPTEMBER 2025
[2025] CLJ JT (13)
Abstract – While every person has the right to profess and practise the religion of his choice, it is not within the jurisdiction of the civil court to interfere with the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court and civil court would respect the powers and jurisdiction of the Syariah Court under the State List of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution. Hence, the civil court, having determined that the present matter raised, ie, renunciation, fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Syariah Court, would not proceed to adjudicate the matter.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Courts – Civil and Syariah courts – Jurisdiction – Plaintiff of indigenous Jakun tribe – Determination of interpretation of 'persons professing the religion of Islam' – Whether question of fact to be proven by plaintiff who sought declaration – Whether plaintiff's conversion corroborated by entry in Daftar Rekod Muallaf Negeri Pahang – Plaintiff raised by convert mother alone – Whether plaintiff's mother entitled to convert plaintiff even without custody order – Whether matter related to renunciation – Whether fell under jurisdiction of Syariah Court – Administration of Islamic Law Enactment 1991 (Pahang) (En 3/1991), ss. 2, 2(1)(b), (d) & 103 – Federal Constitution, art. 12(4)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Jurisdiction – Civil court – Plaintiff of indigenous Jakun tribe – Determination of interpretation of 'persons professing the religion of Islam' – Whether question of fact to be proven by plaintiff who sought declaration – Whether plaintiff's conversion corroborated by entry in Daftar Rekod Muallaf Negeri Pahang – Plaintiff raised by convert mother alone – Whether plaintiff's mother entitled to convert plaintiff even without custody order – Whether matter related to renunciation – Whether fell under jurisdiction of Syariah Court – Administration of Islamic Law Enactment 1991 (Pahang) (En 3/1991), ss. 2, 2(1)(b), (d) & 103 – Federal Constitution, art. 12(4)
