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Issue #26/2017 29 June 2017

New This Week Case(s) of the Week ONG AH HOOI v. PENTADBIR TANAH LARUT, MATANG DAN SELAMA & ANOR [2017] 6 CLJ 262 Latest Cases Legal Network Series CLJ 2017 Volume 6 (Part 3) Articles LNS Article(s) CLJ Article(s) Legislation Highlights Principal Acts Amending Acts PU(A) PU(B) Legislation Alert

ONG AH HOOI v. PENTADBIR TANAH LARUT, MATANG DAN SELAMA & ANOR [2017] 6 CLJ 262
COURT OF APPEAL, PUTRAJAYA
MOHD ZAWAWI SALLEH JCA, ABDUL RAHMAN SEBLI JCA, ASMABI MOHAMAD JCA
[CIVIL APPEAL NO: A-01(IM)-193-06-2015]
19 JANUARY 2017

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Judicial review – Certiorari – Application for – Decision of first respondent rejecting appellant's application for lot of land -  Whether appellant had agreement with Perbadanan Aset Keretapi for lot of land from 1973 – Whether there was legitimate expectation appellant ought to be given lot of land he was occupying until 2014 – Whether powers to alienate State land vests solely in State Authority – Whether decision of first respondent irrational and predicated on unsupported evidence – Wednesbury unreasonableness – Whether there was valid exercise of power by respondents – Whether decision liable to be set aside 

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Legal Network Series

[2016] 1 LNS 673	PP lwn. HERMAN MOHD AMIN	UNDANG-UNDANG JENAYAH: Bunuh - Niat - Mangsa mati akibat ditikam pisau - Tetakan dibahagian kepala, pinggang, lenggan, jari dan isu perut dalam keadaan terburai - Kecederaan pada abdomen sedalam 24cm - Kesan tikaman yang terus dan bertenaga - Tertuduh telah dilihat memegang pisau dan berpelukan dengan simati - Tertuduh mengaku menikam simati - Sama ada kecederaan pada bahagian abdomen boleh menyebabkan kematian secara terus dan menjurus kepada kematian cepat - Sama ada tertuduh telah mati akibat tikaman pada abdomen yang dialaminya - Sama ada kecederaan yang dialami mangsa pada lazimnya membawa kematian - Sama ada tertuduh mempunyai niat untuk membunuh simati UNDANG-UNDANG JENAYAH: Kanun Keseksaan - Seksyen 326 - Kesalahan mendatangkan cedera parah kepada tubuh - Penggunaan senjata yang mungkin menyebabkan kematian - Mangsa ditetak dan dipukul menggunakan pisau sebesar 2 kaki - Tertuduh telah dikecam secara positif oleh mangsa - Sama ada tertuduh telah dengan sengaja menyebabkan kecederaan parah keatas mangsa PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Pembelaan - Mabuk - Tertuduh mendakwa dalam pengaruh alkohol dan dadah - Pertuduhan membunuh - Sama ada pembelaan mabuk dibawah s. 85(2) Kanun Keseksaan telah berjaya dibuktikan PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Pembelaan - Pertahanan diri - Tertuduh mendakwa menggunakan parang bagi tujuan pertahanan diri - Tertuduh mendakwa telah diserang - Mangsa menggunakan kerusi untuk memukul tertuduh - Sama ada sifat senjata yang digunakan oleh mangsa adalah sebahaya sifat dengan senjata yang digunakan oleh tertuduh - Sama ada tertuduh telah menghadapi sebarang ancaman bahaya bencana tubuh - Sama ada tertuduh berada dalam ketakutan yang munasabah akan bahaya bencana pada tubuh badannya
[2016] 1 LNS 885	GGC v. CCC & ANOR	FAMILY LAW: Divorce - Irretrievable break down - Irreconcilable differences between parties - Husband and wife living separately - Wife moved out of matrimonial home and never returned - Husband HIV+ - Wife circulated husband's HIV reports to his friends out of vengeance - Husband dating co-respondent after parties' judicial separation - Whether adultery committed by husband that led to a breakdown of marriage - Whether opportunity to commit adultery was similar to adultery having been committed - Whether allegation of adultery proven beyond reasonable doubt FAMILY LAW: Children - Maintenance - Duty to provide maintenance - Realistic approach in determining maintenance - Middle income household - Whether primary duty and responsibility to provide maintenance to children rested on shoulder of father - Whether income of husband to be looked at realistically in determining maintenance - Whether grant of maintenance should continue until children finish their tertiary education - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, ss. 92, 93, 95 FAMILY LAW: Maintenance - Wife - Request for lump sum maintenance payment - Husband undergoing medical treatment due to HIV+ condition - Husband's working capacity and take home pay severely affected - Wife earning enough to cover her own needs - Whether there was material change in circumstances that would require some adjustment in lifestyle of wife - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, ss. 77(1), 78 FAMILY LAW: Matrimonial property - Division of assets - House purchased and registered in name of both husband and wife but loan was taken and serviced by husband only - Needs of schooling children - School near matrimonial home - Whether degree of responsibility for breakdown of marriage to be considered in division of matrimonial assets - Whether needs of children were taken into consideration - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, s. 76 FAMILY LAW: Divorce - Matrimonial assets - Determination of - Shares in company held by husband - Right of wife in respect of husband's shares in company - Family company owned by husband and his parents - Absence of contribution by wife - Wife had her own job - Whether husband's shares in company was part of matrimonial assets - Whether shares in company should be excluded from division FAMILY LAW: Divorce - Matrimonial assets - Determination of - Land inherited by husband's family - Husband being eldest son of family merely trustee for family - Whether gifts, inheritance or anything given in consideration of love and affection are divisible as matrimonial assets - Whether land should be excluded from division - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, s. 76
[2016] 1 LNS 893	PP lwn. MUHAMMAD KHAIR HARIS	PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Rayuan - Rayuan terhadap pelepasan dan pembebasan - Rayuan oleh pihak pendakwaan - Pertuduhan merogol - Tertuduh dilepaskan dan dibebaskan setelah pembelaan membuktikan keraguan yang munasabah keatas kes pendakwaan - Tertuduh dilepaskan dan dibebaskan walaupun hakim bicara tidak mempercayai keseluruhan pembelaan tertuduh - Keterangan mangsa yang meragukan - Salah arah hakim bicara di akhir kes pendakwaan - Sama ada dapatan berkenaan kredibiliti mangsa wajar diganggu di peringkat rayuan - Sama ada perintah pelepasan dan pembebasan wajar dikekalkan
[2016] 1 LNS 911	ROBIN GOH BOON THYE @ ROBIN ANAK SANTOK & ORS v. SARA URUSHARTA SDN BHD	AGENCY: Creation - Agency relationship - Appointment of agent - Whether appointment of agent needs to be in writing - Whether relationship of a principal and agent could be inferred from circumstances of case CONTRACT: Breach - Damages - Frustration - Claim for loss of use of premise and legitimate expectation of profits - Occupation of premises on month to month basis - Termination of occupation with one month notice - Allegation of wrongful termination - Whether notice to vacate was proper and reasonable - Whether plaintiff was entitled to loss of profits - Whether plaintiff entitled to claim for damages
[2016] 1 LNS 918	LAYAN BUJANG & ORS v. NAIM LAND SDN BHD & ORS	CIVIL PROCEDURE: Action - Discontinuation of - Plaintiff filed notice of discontinuation of action with liberty to file afresh - Notice of discontinuation filed 5 days before trial - Case in advanced stage - Defendant filed voluminous documents and prepared for trial - Defendant had done extensive preparations for trial - Plaintiff discontinued action pending disposal of another case unrelated to plaintiff's action against defendant - Whether discontinuation with liberty to file afresh ought to be allowed

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CLJ 2017 Volume 6 (Part 3)

COURT OF APPEAL

Berjasa Information System Sdn Bhd v. Tan Gaik Leong & Anor
Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Prasad Sandosham Abraham, Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal JJCA
(Civil Procedure - Assessment of damages pursuant to judgment - Whether filed out of time) [2017] 6 CLJ 251 [CA]

Ong Ah Hooi v. Pentadbir Tanah Larut, Matang Dan Selama & Anor
Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abdul Rahman Sebli, Asmabi Mohamad JJCA
(Administrative Law - Certiorari - Whether powers to alienate State land vests solely in State Authority - Whether valid exercise of power by respondents) [2017] 6 CLJ 262 [CA]

Senwara Development Sdn Bhd v. Sabah Development Bank Bhd
Zaharah Ibrahim, Mohamad Ariff Yusof, Varghese George JJCA
(Civil Procedure; Contract - Pleadings - Leave to further amend re-amended statement of claim - Whether would change character of suit - Doctrine of privity of contract - Whether established) [2017] 6 CLJ 278 [CA]

Uthayakumar Ponnusamy v. YAB Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak, Perdana Menteri Malaysia & Ors
Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA
(Criminal Procedure; Jurisdiction - High Court - Procedure - Application for miscellaneous criminal application - Whether appeal competent) [2017] 6 CLJ 297 [CA]

HIGH COURT

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor
Hanipah Farikullah J
(Constitutional Law; Civil Procedure - High Court - Jurisdiction - Whether Parliament has authority to amend Federal Constitution - Whether art. 149 of Federal Constitution empowers Parliament to make special law relating to specific situations concerning security and public order) [2017] 6 CLJ 311 [HC]

Lam Ching v. Yong Selawati Alias (Practising As Messrs Norashikin Yong & Partners)
Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh JC
(Legal Profession - Discharge of solicitor - Procedure - Whether adhered to by client - Duty to client - Breach) [2017] 6 CLJ 323 [HC]

SUBJECT INDEX

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Judicial review - Certiorari - Application for - Decision of first respondent rejecting appellant's application for lot of land - Whether appellant had agreement with Perbadanan Aset Keretapi for lot of land from 1973 - Whether there was legitimate expectation appellant ought to be given lot of land he was occupying until 2014 - Whether powers to alienate State land vests solely in State Authority - Whether decision of first respondent irrational and predicated on unsupported evidence - Wednesbury unreasonableness - Whether there was valid exercise of power by respondents - Whether decision liable to be set aside
Ong Ah Hooi v. Pentadbir Tanah Larut, Matang Dan Selama & Anor
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abdul Rahman Sebli, Asmabi Mohamad JJCA) [2017] 6 CLJ 262 [CA]

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Assessment for damages - Application for - Application for directions for assessment of damages pursuant to judgment obtained - Whether filed out of time - Whether exceeded one month period stipulated under O. 37 r. 1(1) Rules of Court 2012 - Whether O. 37 r. 1(1) Rules of Court 2012 had retrospective effect or should be applied prospectively - Whether substantive rights of plaintiff under judgment ought to be preserved
Berjasa Information System Sdn Bhd v. Tan Gaik Leong & Anor
(Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Prasad Sandosham Abraham, Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal JJCA) [2017] 6 CLJ 251 [CA]

Judgments and orders - Judgment obtained for damages to be assessed - Application for directions for assessment of damages pursuant to judgment - Whether filed out of time - Whether exceeded one month period stipulated under O. 37 r. 1(1) of Rules of Court 2012 - Whether O. 37 r. 1(1) of Rules of Court 2012 had retrospective effect or should be applied prospectively - Whether substantive rights of plaintiff under judgment ought to be preserved
Berjasa Information System Sdn Bhd v. Tan Gaik Leong & Anor
(Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Prasad Sandosham Abraham, Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal JJCA) [2017] 6 CLJ 251 [CA]

Preliminary objection - Issues raised - Courts - High Court - Jurisdiction - Whether Parliament has authority to amend Federal Constitution - Doctrine of 'basic structure' - Whether imposes limitation on Parliament's powers to amend Constitution - Challenge on validity of constitutionality of impugned provision - Whether must specifically ask for declaration that law is invalid - Whether proceeding may only be commenced with leave of Federal Court Judge - Whether art. 149 of Federal Constitution empowers Parliament to make special law relating to specific situations concerning security and public order - Whether High Court has jurisdiction to embark on challenges made against impugned law - Whether challenge fell within scope of art. 4 cls. (3) and (4) of Federal Constitution - Whether preliminary objection ought to be allowed
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor
(Hanipah Farikullah J) [2017] 6 CLJ 311 [HC]

Pleadings - Amendment - Leave to further amend re-amended statement of claim - Seeking to include new paragraph which had effect of raising further allegation - Application to amend brought at late stage in proceedings - Whether made in good faith - Whether amendment would change character of suit - Whether amendment ought to be allowed
Senwara Development Sdn Bhd v. Sabah Development Bank Bhd
(Zaharah Ibrahim, Mohamad Ariff Yusof, Varghese George JJCA) [2017] 6 CLJ 278 [CA]

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Courts - High Court - Jurisdiction - Whether Parliament has authority to amend Federal Constitution - Doctrine of 'basic structure' - Whether imposes limitation on Parliament's powers to amend Constitution - Challenge on validity of constitutionality of impugned provision - Whether must specifically ask for declaration that law was invalid - Whether proceeding may only be commenced with leave of Federal Court Judge - Whether art. 149 of Federal Constitution empowers Parliament to make a special law relating to specific situations concerning security and public order - Whether High Court has jurisdiction to embark on challenges made against impugned law - Whether challenge fell within scope of art. 4 cls. (3) and (4) of Federal Constitution
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor
(Hanipah Farikullah J) [2017] 6 CLJ 311 [HC]

CONTRACT

Breach - Allegation of - Letter of instruction from first defendant to second defendant to channel all payments due to plaintiff - Whether contract arose between plaintiff and second defendant - Whether second defendant obliged to pay plaintiff from progress payments received independent of first defendant's instruction - Doctrine of privity of contract - Whether established - Whether plaintiff precluded from mounting case on basis of 'trust arrangement' - Whether second defendant entitled to make demand on performance bond - Whether second defendant accountable to plaintiff to extent of amount wrongfully demanded and paid out
Senwara Development Sdn Bhd v. Sabah Development Bank Bhd
(Zaharah Ibrahim, Mohamad Ariff Yusof, Varghese George JJCA) [2017] 6 CLJ 278 [CA]

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Appeal - Competency - Application for miscellaneous criminal application - Absence of intitulement in heading or body of application - Whether application made in exercise of High Court's appellate or revisionary jurisdiction or original criminal jurisdiction - Whether appeal competent
Uthayakumar Ponnusamy v. YAB Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak, Perdana Menteri Malaysia & Ors
(Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA) [2017] 6 CLJ 297 [CA]

JURISDICTION

High Court - Procedure - Application for miscellaneous criminal application in High Court - Appellant sought reliefs of mandamus and declaration - Whether reliefs and declaration within jurisdiction of criminal court - Whether application filed pursuant to Criminal Procedure Code - Whether application made in exercise of High Court's appellate or revisionary jurisdiction or original criminal jurisdiction
Uthayakumar Ponnusamy v. YAB Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak, Perdana Menteri Malaysia & Ors
(Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA) [2017] 6 CLJ 297 [CA]

LEGAL PROFESSION

Discharge of solicitor - Procedure - Client dissatisfied with first solicitor's progress and appointed second solicitor - First solicitor took over matter at court upon instruction of client - Second solicitor claimed for professional fees against client - Whether second solicitor properly discharged - Whether second solicitor entitled to legal fees - Procedure for discharging solicitor - Whether adhered to by client
Lam Ching v. Yong Selawati Alias (Practising As Messrs Norashikin Yong & Partners)
(Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh JC) [2017] 6 CLJ 323 [HC]

Duty to client - Breach - Solicitor acted on behalf of client for claim for damages arising from accident - Solicitor secured agreements from insurance and judgment of general and special damages with costs entered against opposing party - Allegation by client that claim for losses and damages settled at lower sum - Whether solicitor obtained best possible result in client's best interest - Whether solicitor negligent and in breach of fiduciary duties, trust and terms of retainer
Lam Ching v. Yong Selawati Alias (Practising As Messrs Norashikin Yong & Partners)
(Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh JC) [2017] 6 CLJ 323 [HC]

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LNS Article(s)

1. AN OVERVIEW ON PRESUMPTION OF LEGITIMACY IN MALAYSIA ^{[Read excerpt]}
   MAZLINA MAHALI* RAMALINGGAM A/L RAJAMANICKAM** ANISAH CHE NGAH*** [2017] 1 LNS(A) xlix

[2017] 1 LNS(A) xlix



MALAYSIA

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AN OVERVIEW ON PRESUMPTION OF LEGITIMACY IN MALAYSIA

MAZLINA MAHALI*
RAMALINGGAM A/L RAJAMANICKAM**
ANISAH CHE NGAH***

Abstract

Presumption of legitimacy is a substantive evidence rule where courts are bound to presume that a child born in a valid marriage is a legitimate child of the mother's husband. The presumption is also known as presumption of paternity or marital presumption in certain jurisdictions. In Malaysia, the presumption of legitimacy, which has its origin from the common law, seems to be a rigid one because it can only be rebutted by showing lack of sexual access by the husband. The law in the United Kingdom has made scientific evidence admissible in any civil proceeding where determination of parentage is an issue. By referring to the position in the United Kingdom, the authors contend that the provision relating to the presumption of legitimacy under Section 112 of the Malaysian Evidence Act 1950 is outdated. The article is qualitative in nature and is a purely doctrinal paper where it focuses on the legal component of presumption of legitimacy in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. This article found that reform of the presumption of legitimacy in Malaysia is long overdue, taking into consideration the development of scientific evidence, which can now provide certainty for the determination of paternity of a child.

Keywords: paternity; legitimacy of child; marital presumption; scientific evidence

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* Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, PhD Candidate, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; mazlinamahali@salam.uitm.edu.my.

** Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; rama@ukm.edu.my.

*** Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; anisah@ukm.edu.my

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2. THE PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES OF MEDIATION IN NIGERIA: A GRAFICO-LEGAL ANALYSIS ^{[Read excerpt]}
   AYINLA, L. A.* [2017] 1 LNS(A) lv

[2017] 1 LNS(A) lv



NIGERIA

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THE PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES OF MEDIATION IN NIGERIA:
A GRAFICO-LEGAL ANALYSIS

AYINLA L. A.*

Abstract

Mediation is an important ADR mechanism in view of its universal success rate. Its contribution to early dispute resolution is immense taking into consideration its consensual nature particularly when the process is handled by a seasoned and cultured neutral to achieve a negotiated settlement without being unnecessarily overbearing. The role / duty of a mediator is an onerous task that demands the use of the necessary skills armed with a good and sound knowledge of the principle and procedure of mediation for successful outcome / resolution of dispute. This paper thus adopts the graphical / pictorial (descriptive) and doctrinal legal research methods to chronicle the principle and procedure of mediation from the Common Law, Islamic Law and Customary Law perspectives.

Keywords: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Principle, procedure and Nigeria

. . .

* Ph. D. (IIUM, Malaysia), LL.M (OAU, Ile - Ife), BL. (Abuja), LL.B. (UDUS), Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, e-mail: lukmanayinla @gmail.com

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CLJ Article(s)

1. PANDANGAN UMUM TERHADAP PERUNTUKAN-PERUNTUKAN STATUT KETERANGAN MAHKAMAH SYARIAH MALAYSIA: SUATU PERBANDINGAN DENGAN AKTA KETERANGAN 1950 (AKTA 56) ^{[Read excerpt]}
   DATO' DR HJ HASSAN AB RAHMAN^* [2017] 6 CLJ(A) i

[2017] 6 CLJ(A) i



MALAYSIA

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PANDANGAN UMUM TERHADAP PERUNTUKAN-PERUNTUKAN STATUT KETERANGAN MAHKAMAH SYARIAH MALAYSIA:
SUATU PERBANDINGAN DENGAN AKTA KETERANGAN 1950 (AKTA 56)

DATO' DR HJ HASSAN AB RAHMAN^*

Latar Belakang

Beberapa peruntukan undang-undang keterangan Islam dikesan mula dipakai di Tanah Melayu sejak zaman Kesultanan Melayu Melaka lagi sebagaimana termaktub dalam naskhah bertulis Hukum Kanun Melaka ('HKM').^[1] Peruntukan-peruntukan tentang undang-undang keterangan Islam tersebut berupa terjemahan daripada kitab-kitab fiqh karangan ulama' mazhab Syafi'i. Antara prinsip keterangan yang dipakai ialah syahadah, yamin dan iqrar^[2] iaitu prinsip-prinsip yang diluluskan oleh jumhur fuqaha'.

. . .

* Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman (Bersara), Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya

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Principal Acts

Amending Acts

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Legislation Alert