The Home Ministry and government have today filed an application for leave to appeal at the Federal Court the entire decision by the Court of Appeal last month that MP Teresa Kok's detention eight years ago under the Internal Security Act is illegal and without basis.

The notice dated today was served on Kok's lawyer Sankara Nair.

In a statement, Kok expressed disappointment with the decision of the Home Ministry and government to appeal.

Sankara told reporters that it was most unfortunate that an appeal was filed.

"It is very clear from the court's judgment that the learned judges have given cogent and well-elucidated reasons for their decision in allowing Kok's appeal," he said.

"The facts speak for themselves. The attorney-general's case was clearly proven as without any basis. It is therefore most regrettable that the AG finds the decision of the appellate court worth appealing," the lawyer added.

In civil cases, parties have 30 days to file the appeal. The three-member Court of Appeal bench delivered its decision on July 26 and today was the last day for the government to file the appeal.

It was reported that Kok was detained for seven days under the ISA over the azan (call for prayer) issue.

The DAP national vice-chairperson initially lost her case at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on April 22 last year.

However, the appellate court ruled that police have not shown any valid reason to make the arrest and declared the arrest as illegal and done without basis.

The Court of Appeal granted Kok a sum of RM200,000 in general damages and a total of RM150,000 in exemplary and aggravated damages. It also overturned the High Court's decision and order that she pay RM50,000 costs.

It ruled that the exemplary and aggravated damages were warranted given Kok's standing as a politician, and that the arrest had violated her constitutional right.