Back to Top

Print this page

Issue #42/2018 18 October 2018

New This Week Case(s) of the Week DATO' SRI DR MOHAMAD SALLEH ISMAIL & ANOR v. NURUL IZZAH ANWAR & ANOR [2018] 9 CLJ 285 Latest Cases Legal Network Series CLJ 2018 Volume 9 (Part 3) Articles LNS Article(s) Legislation Highlights Principal Acts Amending Acts PU(A) PU(B) Legislation Alert

DATO' SRI DR MOHAMAD SALLEH ISMAIL & ANOR v. NURUL IZZAH ANWAR & ANOR [2018] 9 CLJ 285
COURT OF APPEAL, PUTRAJAYA
ABANG ISKANDAR JCA, BADARIAH SAHAMID JCA, MARY LIM JCA
[APPEAL NO: W-02(NCVC)(W)-481-03-2016]
14 FEBRUARY 2018

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs – Allegation of misappropriation of funds – Whether there was falsity of impugned statements – Whether first defendant as Member of Parliament merely performing public duty of addressing issues of public concerns – Whether impugned statements proved to be defamatory – Whether defence of justification established – Defamation Act 1957, s. 8

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs – Allegation of misappropriation of funds – Whether there was falsity of impugned statements – Whether impugned statements misinformation – Whether impugned statements proved to be defamatory – Whether defence of qualified privilege available

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs – Allegation of misappropriation of funds – Whether there was falsity of impugned statements – Whether statements were comments made in the first defendant’s capacity as incumbent Member of Parliament and concerned members of her constituency – Whether alleged defamatory statement an expression of opinion on a matter of public interest – Whether defence of fair comment established

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs – Allegation of misappropriation of funds – Whether there was falsity of impugned statements – Whether there was malice aforethought – Whether there was evidence of dishonesty on first defendant’s part when giving press conference

---

Legal Network Series

[2016] 1 LNS 1355	AZMI SULAIMAN v. PP CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Appeal - Appeal against conviction - Charge against director of company pursuant to s. 22(1) of Companies Act 1965 ('CA') - Director charged following company's failure to honour compensation awarded by Housing Tribunal - Company wound up and could no longer be charged - Trial judge rejected defence on basis of mere denial - Whether decision of trial judge warranted appellate intervention - Whether director exercised diligence to prevent commission of offence by company - Whether presumption under s. 22(1) of CA was rebutted - Whether conviction was right and safe CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Appeal - Appeal against sentence - Charge under s. 22(1) of Companies Act 1965 - Accused was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment for each charge - First offender - Accused was 50 years old and sole breadwinner of family - Invocation of s. 294 of Criminal Procedure Code ('CPC') - Whether invocation of s. 294 of CPC is discretionary – Whether s. 294 of CPC should be invoked merely because accused was a first offender - Whether public interest element of deterrence must be taken into account in sentencing - Whether sentence meted out by trial judge was fair  For the appellant - M Athimulan, Simon Tan & K Mahendran; M/s Athimulan & Co  For the respondent - N Jaya Nadarajah; Bahagian Undang-Undang Kementerian Kesejahteraan Bandar, Perumahan Dan Kerajaan Tempatan
[2016] 1 LNS 1358	PUA KIM WEE v. KETUA PENGARAH IMIGRESEN MALAYSIA & ANOR ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Judicial review - Application for - Leave to apply for judicial review - Application to quash decision of Director General of Immigration ('DGI') - DGI barred applicant from leaving Malaysia - Applicant was prevented from travelling abroad because he was being investigated under s. 124B of Penal Code for being involved in a plan to topple government - Whether applicant has constitutional right to travel overseas - Whether travel ban was in accordance with law - Whether decision of DGI was excluded from judicial review by virtue of s. 59A of Immigration Act 1959 - Whether DGI was empowered to give direction to bar a person from travelling abroad  For the applicant - Gobind Singh Deo & Joanne Chua; M/s Gobind Singh Deo & Co  For the respondents - Shamsul Bolhassan, Senior Federal Counsel; Attorney General's Chambers
[2017] 1 LNS 1302	KELLER (M) SDN BHD v. ONG LEONG CHIOU & ORS CONTRACT: Building contract - Claim for work done - Complete reversal of payment after full performance and completion - Objection made on reversal - Whether there was outstanding amount based on interim progress claims and certificates CONTRACT: Building contract - Undertaking - Release of retention sum - Existence of series of meetings with all parties to increase retention sum - Main contractor refused to release retention sum to engineer on ground of dispute involving payment - Whether there was reasonable ground for main contractor to refuse to release retention sum COMPANY LAW: Separate legal entity - Lifting of corporate veil - Fraud - Liability of director - Joint and several - Whether a director could hide under shell of incorporation to escape liability when fraud has been perpetrated - Whether veil of incorporation should be lifted to expose action and identity of mastermind, and vehicle used by him - Whether veil of incorporation should be lifted to make director fully liable for loss suffered by victim as a result his fraud - Whether director should be held jointly and severally liable with company  For the plaintiff - Richard Kok & Winnou Chung; M/s Rhiza & Richard  For the 1st and 3rd defendants - Ben Lee & Shafiehani; M/s Gan & Zul  For the 2nd defendant - Jaqdip Singh & Karamjit Kaur; M/s Karamjit & Jaq  For the 4th defendant - JL Foo & Caryn Lye; M/s Gan Partnership
[2017] 1 LNS 2097	AFEEF ABDUL QADER MANSOR lwn. PENTADBIR TANAH WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN UNDANG-UNDANG TANAH: Pengambilan tanah - Perintah pampasan - Pemohon mempertikaikan tiadanya pampasan diberikan berhubung bangunan atas tanah berjadual - Tanah pemohon telah dikosongkan ekoran kejadian tanah runtuh - Rumah dan kolam renang atas tanah telah dirobohkan sebelum tanah diwartakan untuk pengambilan - Pihak Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta telah mengesahkan tanah berjadual merupakan tanah kosong ketika lawatan - Sama ada pampasan perlu diberikan terhadap kerosakan harta alih atau tidak alih semasa Pentadbir Tanah mengambil tanah - Akta Pengambilan Tanah 1960, Jadual Pertama, s. 2(d)  Bagi pihak perayu - Wan Aizuddin Wan Muhammed; T/n Shafee & Co  Bagi pihak responden - Ahmad Faiz Razali
[2017] 1 LNS 2134	IN RE: ABDUL MALIK ABDULLAH; EX-PARTE: BANK KERJASAMA RAKYAT MALAYSIA BERHAD PERBANKAN: Perintah penerimaan dan penghukuman - Rayuan - Pertikaian berkenaan penghakiman ingkar yang menjadi asas kepada prosiding kebankrapan - Dakwaan bahawa penghakiman ingkar tidak menyatakan amaun penghakiman yang perlu dibayar oleh beberapa defendan secara bersesama atau berasingan - Sama ada pemiutang penghakiman boleh mengambil tindakan pelaksanaan ke atas penghutang penghakiman atas keseluruhan jumlah yang terhutang  Bagi pihak penghutang penghakiman - Ranjit Singh Dhillon; T/n Ranjit Singh Dhillon & Co  Bagi pihak pemiutang penghakiman - Adila; T/n Amir Ruhana & Khairuddin

 

---

CLJ 2018 Volume 9 (Part 3)

COURT OF APPEAL

Dato' Sri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail & Anor v. Nurul Izzah Anwar & Anor
Abang Iskandar, Badariah Sahamid, Mary Lim JJCA
(Tort - Defamation - Libel - Allegation of misappropriation of funds - Defences - Whether available) [2018] 9 CLJ 285 [CA]

 For the appellant - Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Sarah Abishegam & Noor Farhah Mustaffa; M/s Shafee & Co
 For the respondent - Razlan Hadri, Joshua Kevin & Azura Adnan; M/s Kevin & Co 

Eng Song Aluminium Industries Sdn Bhd v. Keat Siong Property Sdn Bhd
Idrus Harun, Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof JJCA
(Contract - Sale and purchase agreement - Specific performance) [2018] 9 CLJ 311 [CA]

 For the appellant - Yoong How Kiat; M/s HK Yoong;
 For the respondent - R Vasanthan; M/s Julie Lim, Vasanthan & Co 

HIGH COURT

Bandar Tanming Sdn Bhd v. Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Kuala Langat & Ors
Amelia Tee Abdullah J
(Land Law; Civil Procedure - Compulsory acquisition - Whether there was fraud by acquiring authority - Striking out of writ and statement of claim - Whether fraud pleaded) [2018] 9 CLJ 328 [HC]

 For the 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th defendants - Naziah Mokhtar; State Legal Advisors, Selangor
 For the 3^rd defendant - Masturina Mohamed Rodzi; M/s Edwin Lim & Suren 

Dayang Khatijah Jahan & Yang Lain lwn. Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Seberang Perai Utara, Pulau Pinang & Satu Lagi
Azmi Abdullah PK
(Undang-undang Tanah - Pecah-bahagian - Permohonan - Sama ada teratur) [2018] 9 CLJ 345 [HC]

 Bagi pihak plaintif-plaintif - Mohd Arifhanafi Sani; T/n Aswar, Simon & Azhar
 Bagi pihak defendan-defendan - Siti Fatimah Talib; Peguam Kanan Persekutuan 

Kerajaan Malaysia v. Rohana Abu
Faizah Jamaludin JC
(Civil Procedure; Revenue Law - Summary judgment - Whether preliminary requirements satisfied - Construction of taxing statute - Income Tax Act 1967, s. 75A(2)(b)) [2018] 9 CLJ 355 [HC]

 For the plaintiff - Nur Aina Mohd Jaafar; FC, Inland Revenue Board
 For the defendant - Harold Tan Kok Leng; M/s Harold & Lam Partnership 

Neoh Kien Teng v. L & L Glass Aluminium Trading Sdn Bhd; Aston Star Sdn Bhd (Intervener)
Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera J
(Company Law - Liquidation - Assignment - Whether stakeholder sum fell under ss. 293 of Companies Act 1965 and/or 528 of Companies Act 2016 read together with ss. 52 and/or 53 of Bankruptcy Act 1967) [2018] 9 CLJ 367 [HC]

 For the respondent - M/s S Ravenesan
 For the petitioner - M/s Basharuddin Fa'izie Iskandar
 For the intervener - M/s Mah-Kamariyah & Philip Koh 

Schwan-Stabilo Marketing Sdn Bhd & Anor v. S & Y Stationery & Ors
Wong Kian Kheong JC
(Civil Procedure - Appeal against decision of Deputy Registrar - Effect of adverse inference in assessment proceedings) [2018] 9 CLJ 384 [HC]

 For appellants/defendants - Lai Kwan Kam; M/s KK Lai & Co
 For respondent/2^nd plaintiff - Kok Pok Chin & Ong Hong Keit; M/s PC Kok & Co 

Taman Rimba (Mentakab) Sdn Bhd v. Warrior Rubber Products (M) Sdn Bhd; Cindee Development Sdn Bhd & Anor (Contributories)
Mohd Nazlan Ghazali J
(Civil Procedure; Company Law - Stay of execution - Application for - Whether caused prejudice) [2018] 9 CLJ 407 [HC]

 For the applicants - Harvinderjit Singh & Sara Felix; M/s Vin Law & Co
 For the petitioner - Norliza Rasool & Bryan Teo; M/s Zul Rafique & Partners
 For the respondent - Alexia Lo; M/s Izral Partnership 

SUBJECT INDEX

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Appeal - Appeal against decision of Deputy Registrar - Claim for relief regarding counterfeit goods based on trade mark infringement, tort of passing off and tort of unlawful interference with trade - Whether Deputy Registrar correct in law to award compensatory damages in form of royalty or loss of license fees based on `user' principle - Whether Deputy Registrar should award further compensatory damages based on loss of business profits stemming from unlawful acts - Correct assessment of loss or damage to goodwill as result of passing off - Whether Deputy Registrar could draw adverse inference in assessments proceedings - Effect of adverse inference in assessment proceedings - Trade Marks Act 1976, ss. 35(1), 38(1)(a)
Schwan-Stabilo Marketing Sdn Bhd & Anor v. S & Y Stationery & Ors
(Wong Kian Kheong JC) [2018] 9 CLJ 384 [HC]

Execution - Stay - Application for - Stay of execution of winding-up order pending appeal - Whether potential conflicting decisions may arise by different courts regarding same issues between same parties - Special circumstances - Whether established - Whether prejudice occasioned against any party if stay granted - Whether granting of stay justified - Whether requirements of s. 492 of Companies Act 2016 met - Courts of Judicature Act 1964, s. 73 - Rules of Court 2012, O. 45 r. 11
Taman Rimba (Mentakab) Sdn Bhd v. Warrior Rubber Products (M) Sdn Bhd; Cindee Development Sdn Bhd & Anor (Contributories)
(Mohd Nazlan Ghazali J) [2018] 9 CLJ 407 [HC]

Striking out - Writ and statement of claim - Land acquisition - Land owner initiated action against acquiring authority - Discovery that canal project cancelled and land sold to third parties - Decision not communicated to land owner - Whether decision to not use acquired land for intended project amounted to fraud - Whether writ and statement of claim disclosed cause of action - Whether fraud pleaded - Whether ought to be struck out - Rules of Court 2012, O. 18 r. 19
Bandar Tanming Sdn Bhd v. Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Kuala Langat & Ors
(Amelia Tee Abdullah J) [2018] 9 CLJ 328 [HC]

Summary judgment - Application for - Whether preliminary requirements satisfied - Whether burden shifted to defendant - Whether defendant established triable issues - Whether a fit and proper case to grant summary judgment - Rules of Court 2012, O. 14 r. 1
Kerajaan Malaysia v. Rohana Abu
(Faizah Jamaludin JC) [2018] 9 CLJ 355 [HC]

COMPANY LAW

Liquidation - Assignment - Developer appointed sub-contractor to supply, deliver and install certain works for project - Developer advances money to sub-contractor when sub-contractor experienced cash flow problems - Developer's solicitor/stakeholder to forward net proceeds due to developer under sale and purchase agreement to intervener in full or partial extinguishment of advance - Developer wound up - Developer and liquidator laid claim to stakeholder sum - Whether stakeholder sum fell under ss. 293 of the Companies Act 1965 and/or 528 of Companies Act 2016 read together with ss. 52 and/or 53 of Bankruptcy Act 1967
Neoh Kien Teng v. L & L Glass Aluminium Trading Sdn Bhd; Aston Star Sdn Bhd (Intervener)
(Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera J) [2018] 9 CLJ 367 [HC]

Winding-up - Stay - Application for - Stay of execution of winding-up order pending appeal - Whether potential conflicting decisions may arise by different courts regarding same issues between same parties - Special circumstances - Whether established - Whether prejudice occasioned against any party if stay granted - Whether granting of stay justified - Whether requirements of s. 492 of Companies Act 2016 met - Courts of Judicature Act 1964, s.73 - Rules of Court 2012, O. 45 r. 11
Taman Rimba (Mentakab) Sdn Bhd v. Warrior Rubber Products (M) Sdn Bhd; Cindee Development Sdn Bhd & Anor (Contributories)
(Mohd Nazlan Ghazali J) [2018] 9 CLJ 407 [HC]

CONTRACT

Agreement - Sale and purchase agreement - Subject to contract - Approval of State Authority - Appellant refused to continue with sale and purchase and tenancy agreement after months of negotiations and payment of deposit - Summary judgment - Specific performance - Application under O. 81 of Rules of Court 2012 - Whether there was a concluded contract - Whether specific performance under O. 81 of Rules of Court 2012 could be granted in a sale and purchase agreement subject to condition precedent
Eng Song Aluminium Industries Sdn Bhd v. Keat Siong Property Sdn Bhd
(Idrus Harun, Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof JJCA) [2018] 9 CLJ 311 [CA]

LAND LAW

Acquisition of land - Compulsory acquisition - Land compulsorily acquired for canal project - Land owner awarded compensation - Discovery that canal project cancelled and land sold to third parties - Decision not communicated to land owner - Whether decision to not use acquired land for intended project amounted to fraud - Whether there was fraud by acquiring authority - Whether land owner had necessary locus standi to initiate action - Whether land owner had cause of action - Whether res judicata applied - Land Acquisition Act 1960, ss. 3(1)(a), 68 & 68A
Bandar Tanming Sdn Bhd v. Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Kuala Langat & Ors
(Amelia Tee Abdullah J) [2018] 9 CLJ 328 [HC]

REVENUE LAW

Taxing statute - Construction - Income Tax Act 1967, s. 75A(2)(b) - Liability of director of wound-up company for additional taxes - Director held 20% shareholding - Notices of assessment issued prior to coming into effect of amendment to s. 75A(2)(b) - Whether amendment to s.75A(2)(b) retrospective in effect - Whether applicable to director - Whether director jointly and severally liable for company's taxes
Kerajaan Malaysia v. Rohana Abu
(Faizah Jamaludin JC) [2018] 9 CLJ 355 [HC]

TORT

Defamation - Libel - Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs - Allegation of misappropriation of funds - Whether there was falsity of impugned statements - Whether first defendant as Member of Parliament merely performing public duty of addressing issues of public concerns - Whether impugned statements proved to be defamatory - Whether defence of justification established - Defamation Act 1957, s. 8
Dato' Sri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail & Anor v. Nurul Izzah Anwar & Anor
(Abang Iskandar, Badariah Sahamid, Mary Lim JJCA) [2018] 9 CLJ 285 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs - Allegation of misappropriation of funds - Whether there was falsity of impugned statements - Whether impugned statements misinformation - Whether impugned statements proved to be defamatory - Whether defence of qualified privilege available
Dato' Sri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail & Anor v. Nurul Izzah Anwar & Anor
(Abang Iskandar, Badariah Sahamid, Mary Lim JJCA) [2018] 9 CLJ 285 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs - Allegation of misappropriation of funds - Whether there was falsity of impugned statements - Whether statements were comments made in the first defendant's capacity as incumbent Member of Parliament and concerned members of her constituency - Whether alleged defamatory statement an expression of opinion on a matter of public interest - Whether defence of fair comment established
Dato' Sri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail & Anor v. Nurul Izzah Anwar & Anor
(Abang Iskandar, Badariah Sahamid, Mary Lim JJCA) [2018] 9 CLJ 285 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Press conference contained statements alleged to be defamatory of plaintiffs - Allegation of misappropriation of funds - Whether there was falsity of impugned statements - Whether there was malice aforethought - Whether there was evidence of dishonesty on first defendant's part when giving press conference
Dato' Sri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail & Anor v. Nurul Izzah Anwar & Anor
(Abang Iskandar, Badariah Sahamid, Mary Lim JJCA) [2018] 9 CLJ 285 [CA]

INDEKS PERKARA

UNDANG-UNDANG TANAH

Pecah-bahagian - Permohonan - Permohonan pecah-bahagian tanah ditolak oleh Pentadbir Tanah - Sama ada permohonan pecah-bahagian teratur - Sama ada memenuhi syarat-syarat yang ditetapkan statut - Kanun Tanah Negara, s. 418
Dayang Khatijah Jahan & Yang Lain lwn. Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Seberang Perai Utara, Pulau Pinang & Satu Lagi
(Azmi Abdullah PK) [2018] 9 CLJ 345 [HC]

---

LNS Article(s)

1. CIPAA ADJUDICATION - WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE
   VIEW ESTEEM SDN BHD v. BINA PURI HOLDINGS BHD ^{[Read excerpt]}
   FOO JOON LIANG* [2018] 1 LNS(A) civ

[2018] 1 LNS(A) civ



MALAYSIA

---

CIPAA ADJUDICATION - WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE
VIEW ESTEEM SDN BHD v. BINA PURI HOLDINGS BHD

FOO JOON LIANG*

Almost 4 years into the implementation of the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012, commonly referred to by its abbreviation of CIPAA, the Federal Court delivered its decision in View Esteem Sdn Bhd v Bina Puri Holdings Bhd [2017] 1 LNS 1378 declaring the law on 3 parts of the Act. Two of these parts – concerning the jurisdiction of the adjudicator and the stay of an Adjudication Decision – reverses a body of jurisprudence developed in those 4 years, as well as the general understanding and practice of the industry. This article outlines the impact of View Esteem.

. . .

*Advocate and Solicitor, FCIArb

---

Please subscribe to cljlaw or login for the full article.

2. THE IMPLIED OBLIGATION OF MUTUAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS:
   AN ANALYSIS OF THE UK AND MALAYSIAN POSITION ^{[Read excerpt]}
   Jaganraj Ramachandran*Dr Saravanabavan Mathialagan** [2018] 1 LNS(A) cv

[2018] 1 LNS(A) cv



MALAYSIA

---

THE IMPLIED OBLIGATION OF MUTUAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS:
AN ANALYSIS OF THE UK AND MALAYSIAN POSITION

Jaganraj Ramachandran*
Dr Saravanabavan Mathialagan**

Abstract

This paper will discuss the applicability of the Doctrine of Implied Obligation of Mutual Trust and Confidence (Doctrine) in UK and Malaysia. It entails the basic principle that employers are to look beyond the contract of employment and an employee may have enforceability rights even in circumstances where it is not written in the contract of employment. This can have a significant impact on the operation of employment contracts. In this paper, we shall examine the necessary case laws and jurisprudence surrounding the Doctrine in UK and Malaysia.

. . .

* LL.B (Hons)(London), LL.M(Malaya). PhD Candidate (University of Malaya)

** LL.B (Hons) (Cardiff), LLM (Malaya), PhD (UUM). Advocate & Solicitor (Malaya), Barrister at Law (Lincolns Inn).

---

Please subscribe to cljlaw or login for the full article.

3. HUMAN CAPITAL ISSUES IN ISLAMIC FINANCE* ^{[Read excerpt]}
   MOHAMMAD MAHBUBI ALI [2018] 1 LNS(A) cvii

[2018] 1 LNS(A) cvii



MALAYSIA

---

HUMAN CAPITAL ISSUES IN ISLAMIC FINANCE*

MOHAMMAD MAHBUBI ALI

Islamic finance has witnessed, over the last few years, a remarkable growth at 15-20% Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), emerging as one of the fastest growing financial sectors in the world. The total assets of the Islamic financial industry in 2015 were around USD2t ln and are estimated to surpass USD4tln by 2020. The industry’s rapid growth undoubtedly creates a huge demand for new expertise. “Human Capital Development Report” (2014) revealed that the global Islamic financial services industry requires more than 50,000 talented personnel with technical Shari’ah finance expertise.

Malaysia, being home to the largest sukuk issuance, the third largest Islamic banking assets and home for almost two thirds (71%) of the takaful market share within the ASEAN region, also requires a significant addition of Islamic finance talent. Based on Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint, the Islamic finance industry in Malaysia requires more than 22,400 employees to support the Islamic financial sector.

. . .

* Published with kind permission of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia. (www.iais.org.my).

---

Please subscribe to cljlaw or login for the full article.

4. PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS MUST JUMP DISABILITY HURDLES* ^{[Read excerpt]}
   Belinda Miller**Rachael Hyde*** [2018] 1 LNS(A) cvi

[2018] 1 LNS(A) cvi



AUSTRALIA

---

PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS MUST JUMP DISABILITY HURDLES*

Belinda Miller**
Rachael Hyde***

---

The recent cases of Chalker and Shizas provide useful guidance for practitioners in relation to the Court's attitude to disability discrimination claims brought by prospective employees, and the different legislative approaches to the 'inherent requirements' defence for employers in anti-discrimination legislation and the Fair Work Act.

---

Chalker

In Chalker v Murrays Australia Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCATAD 112 (10 April 2017) (‘Chalker’), the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found bus company Murrays had discriminated against a job applicant on the basis of the applicant’s mental illness, in contravention of section 49D of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) (the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act). That section is analogous to section 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (the DDA).

. . .

* Published with kind permission of the Law Society of the Australian Capital Territory. See Ethos No. 246 December 2017.

** Women's Legal Centre

*** Aulich Civil Law

---

Please subscribe to cljlaw or login for the full article.

Principal Acts

Amending Acts

PU(A)

PU(B)

Legislation Alert