The government and the National Registration Department has filed an application for leave to appeal to the Federal Court over the Court of Appeal's landmark decision that children conceived out of wedlock can bear the surname of the father.

The appellate court also decided that an edict on this by the National Fatwa Committee does not have the force of law.

Lawyer Nizam Bashir, who represents the child and his parents, said the government had already filed the application for leave (permission).

“That is where the case stands now. Let us see how it goes,” he told Malaysiakini today, adding that he thought it was a "reasonable judgment" by the Court of Appeal...