Ex-medical student fails in bid to continue, complete studies

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today rejected a former medical student's application to challenge the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM)'s decision to expel her for getting married.
Justice Datuk Asmabi Mohamad in his ruling said the court saw no reason to intervene in the university's decision involving Nurul Shamimi Zainul Ariffin.
He also ordered her to pay RM6,000 in costs to the two respondents, UPNM and Armed Forces Council.
In his judgement, Asmabi said the applicant had voluntarily signed the contract and was aware that she was not allowed to marry while undergoing the five-year programme.
He said a student who is preparing to become a military officer must always be focused and active in order to be able to withstand rigorous training.
Nurul Shamimi, 24, was represented by counsel Dr Zulqarnain Lukman while the respondents, by senior federal counsel M. Kogilambigai.
On April 23, 2015, the high court granted leave to the ex-medical student for judicial review to challenge UPNM's decision.
In her application, Nurul Shamimi who was offered a place at UPNM on Sept 4, 2011 said she was sponsored by the Defence Ministry and as a Cadet Officer, signed an agreement with the council.
She said UPNM terminated her studies after she agreed with the council which discovered that she married in Thailand in 2012 when she was 21 years old, that she had breached the agreement.
Nurul Shamimi, who is now a pharmacist had sought an order to declare that the agreement between her and the respondents, which prevented her from getting married, was unconstitutional.
She had also sought an order to declare that the council's decision during a meeting on Aug 26, 2014 to terminate her appointment as a cadet officer and for her to repay RM83,998.66 was null and void.
Nurul Shamimi had also sought for an order to declare that the decision by UPNM to expel her was invalid.
Aside from damages and other relief, she had also sought a mandamus order to compel UPNM to allow her to continue and complete her studies and reinstate her sponsorship. — Bernama