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Issue #18/2019 02 May 2019

New This Week Case(s) of the Week MOHD NAJIB HJ ABD RAZAK v. PP [2019] 4 CLJ 514 Appeal Updates Appeal Updates Latest Cases Legal Network Series CLJ 2019 Volume 4 (Part 4) Articles LNS Article(s) CLJ Article(s) Legislation Highlights Principal Acts Amending Acts PU(A) PU(B) Legislation Alert

MOHD NAJIB HJ ABD RAZAK v. PP [2019] 4 CLJ 514
HIGH COURT MALAYA, KUALA LUMPUR
COLLIN LAWRENCE SEQUERAH J
[CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO: WA-44-211-12-2018]
01 MARCH 2019

LEGAL PROFESSION: Practice of law – Practice and etiquette – Application to disqualify Prosecutor from continuing to act as Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor or to appear on behalf of Public Prosecutor – Appointment of Prosecutor made known through media release – Whether made under provisions of s. 376(3) Criminal Procedure Code – Whether letter of appointment ought to be produced – Whether applicant had right to request for copy of letter of appointment – Whether letter of appointment classified as official secret under Official Secrets Act 1972 – Whether Prosecutor involved in investigations of cases – Whether there was breach of r. 28(1) of Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1970 – Whether applicant’s apprehension or fears of overzealous prosecution based upon mere speculation and unfounded – Whether threshold for disqualification of Prosecutor met

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Prosecution – Prosecuting officer – Application to disqualify Prosecutor from continuing to act as Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor or to appear on behalf of Public Prosecutor – Appointment of Prosecutor made known through media release – Whether made under provisions of s. 376(3) Criminal Procedure Code – Whether letter of appointment ought to be produced – Whether applicant had right to request for copy of letter of appointment – Whether letter of appointment classified as official secret under Official Secrets Act 1972 – Whether Prosecutor involved in investigations of cases – Whether there was breach of r. 28(1) of Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1970 – Whether applicant’s apprehension or fears of overzealous prosecution based upon mere speculation and unfounded – Whether threshold for disqualification of Prosecutor met

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1. Suhailah Abdullah v. PP [2018] 1 LNS 1443 (CA) affirming the High Court case of PP v. Suhailah Abdullah [Criminal Appeal No: BKI-45A-1/2-2014]

2. K Parameswaran Kalimuthu lwn. PP [2019] 1 LNS 18 (CA) affirming the High Court case of PP lwn. K Parameswaran Kalimuthu [Perbicaraan Jenayah No: 45B-04-01/2017]

Legal Network Series

[2018] 1 LNS 112	AIDA MAWARNI SHAHIMI v. ZULKIFLI MOHD NOOR & ANOR ROAD TRAFFIC: Negligence - Road accident - Collision between motorcycle and bus - Determination of liability - Conflicting evidence - Whether accident debris may represent point of impact - Whether mute evidence could assist trial court in arriving at its conclusion on face of conflicting versions narrated by each party For the plaintiff/appellant - Baljit Singh; M/s Baljit Singh & Company For the defendants/respondents - Thilagam Subramaniam; M/s Chan & Su
[2018] 1 LNS 372	MARAN METAL TRADING SDN BHD v. RCS INDUSTRIES SDN BHD DAMAGES: Assessment - Loss of profit - Future profit - Dispute on audited accounts - Audited financial statements tendered through auditor - Whether audited financial statements was a true and fair statement of state of company's affairs - Whether there were proven calculations or credible justifications for future profit claim - Whether claim for loss of profit was credible and supported by audited financial statements For the plaintiff - Keshvinjeet Singh; M/s Gunaseelan & Associates For the defendant - Alvin Oh; M/s Sia Siew Mun & Co
[2018] 1 LNS 406	EKUITI SETEGAP SDN BHD v. PLAZA 393 MANAGEMENT CORPORATION & ORS CIVIL PROCEDURE: Striking out - Action - Action seeking damages to be assessed by court on alleged malicious litigation - Plaintiff alleged s. 218 notice and winding up petition was unlawful - Whether filing of petition was lawful - Whether there was valid cause of action to enable defendants to answer claim - Whether plaintiff's claim was obviously unsustainable For the plaintiff - Kamraj Nayagam & Kent Chai; M/s Mah-Kamariyah & Philip Koh For the defendants - Aimee Liew & Lim Zi-An; M/s YH Teh & Quek
[2018] 1 LNS 212	PP lwn. HALIM MOHAMAD ALI UNDANG-UNDANG JENAYAH: Dadah berbahaya - Pengedaran - Pemilikan - Operasi tangkapan ke atas tertuduh melibatkan peranan penyamar sulit - Kewujudan transaksi jual beli dadah antara tertuduh dan penyamar sulit - Dadah dibawa dalam kereta tertuduh dan dirampas dari poket seluar yang dipakai tertuduh - Sama ada dadah yang dibawa tertuduh adalah dadah yang dipesan dan ingin dibeli oleh penyamar sulit - Sama ada tertuduh mempunyai kawalan dan jagaan serta pengetahuan berkenaan dadah berbahaya - Sama ada anggapan di bawah ss. 37(d) dan 37(da) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 terpakai PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Pembelaan - Perangkap - Pertuduhan pemilikan dan pengedaran dadah berbahaya - Tertuduh mendakwa dadah diletakkan oleh polis di dalam keretanya - Sama ada wujud dendam antara pihak polis dan tertuduh yang telah menyebabkan tertuduh telah diperangkap - Sama ada pembelaan tertuduh bersifat penafian semata-mata - Sama ada anggapan pemilikan di bawah s. 37(d) ADB dan pengedaran di bawah s. 37(da) telah dipatahkan Bagi pihak pendakwaan - Siti Hajar Mustafa, Timbalan Pendakwara Bagi pihak pembelaan - Richard Bong; T/n Bong & Co
[2018] 1 LNS 336	PP lwn. OKWUHOA EDOZIE STEPHEN (NGA) PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Rayuan - Rayuan terhadap hukuman - Rayuan oleh pendakwa raya - Kesalahan serius - Hukuman 7 tahun dan 10 sebatan untuk kesalahan di bawah s. 6 Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 - Sama ada hukuman yang telah dijatuhkan adalah setimpal - Sama ada hasrat Parlimen adalah untuk memberi perhatian yang serius atas kesalahan Bagi pihak perayu - Jasmee Hameeza Jaafar; Timbalan Pendakwa Raya; Jabatan Peguam Negara

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CLJ 2019 Volume 4 (Part 4)

FEDERAL COURT

Bungsar Hill Holdings Sdn Bhd v. Damansara Realty Bhd
Richard Malanjum CJ, Zaharah Ibrahim CJ (Malaya), David Wong Dak Wah CJ (Sabah & Sarawak), Azahar Mohamed, Rohana Yusuf FCJJ
(Land Law; Statutory Interpretation - Acquisition of land - Compensation - Compensation paid into court by Land Administrator) [2019] 4 CLJ 429 [FC]

• For the appellant - Sitpah Selvaratnam, Alan Andrian Gomez & Michael Yap Chin Hong; M/s Tommy Thomas
• For the respondent - Zamani Ibrahim & Helmi Hamzah; M/s Zamani Ibrahim 

COURT OF APPEAL

Ketua Pengarah Kastam Dan Eksais v. Coach Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid, Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof JJCA
(Civil Procedure; Revenue Law - Goods and services tax - Special refund - Application for special refund of sales tax for goods held on hand) [2019] 4 CLJ 454 [CA]

• For the appellant - Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan; SFC & Syamimi Farhana; FC
• For the respondent - Mohd Arief Emran Arifin, Jason Liang & Kelvin Hong Meng Chong; M/s Wong & Partners 

Pihak Berkuasa Tatatertib Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai & Anor v. Muziadi Mukhtar
Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof, Mary Lim JJCA
(Administrative Law; Statutory Interpretation - Judicial review - Local authority - Dismissal from service) [2019] 4 CLJ 466 [CA]

• For the appellants - Karin Lim, Murgan D Maniam & Cyrus Lim Kia Chun; M/s Presgrave & Mathews
• For the respondent - Selvarani Naramasivoo; M/s Selvarani Naramasivoo & Co 

PP lwn. Taiko Fertiliser & Yang Lain
Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Kamardin Hashim, Ab Karim Ab Jalil HHMR
(Undang-Undang Jenayah - Pengubahan wang haram - Pelucuthakkan - Permohonan penyiaran notis dalam Warta) [2019] 4 CLJ 480 [CA]

• Bagi pihak perayu - Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi & Mohd Zain Ibrahim; TPR
• Bagi pihak responden - Abdul Hamid Menon Abdullah; T/n RK Menon & Co 

HIGH COURT

Dato' Seri Timor Shah Rafiq v. Nautilus Tug & Towage Sdn Bhd
Mohd Nazlan Ghazali J
(Civil Procedure - Contempt of court - Committal proceedings - Application for leave based on breach of inspection order) [2019] 4 CLJ 491 [HC]

• For the plaintiff - Pang Kok Leng & Samantha Su Xiu Ming; M/s Cheah Teh & Su
• For the defendant - David Mathews, Olivia Loh, Malarvily Perumal & Yeoh Kar Ying; M/s Gananathan Loh
• For Suresh & Azian - Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Harvinderjit Singh, Sarah Abishegam, Sara Ann Choy Sue May & Harvinder Singh Sidhu; M/s Vin Law Co 

Mohd Najib Hj Abd Razak v. PP
Collin Lawrence Sequerah J
(Legal Profession; Criminal Procedure - Practice of law - Practice and etiquette - Application to disqualify Prosecutor from continuing to act as Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor or to appear on behalf of Public Prosecutor) [2019] 4 CLJ 514 [HC]

• For the applicant - Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Farhan Shafee, Farhan Read, Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed, Rahmat Hazlan, Harvinderjit Singh, Zahria Eleena & Syahirah Hanapiah; M/s Shafee & Co
• For the respondent - Tommy Thomas, Ahmad Akram Gharib, Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam, Atiqah Liyana, Deepa Nair Thovaharan & Nadia Mohd Izhar; DPPs 

Tenaga Nasional Bhd v. ATA Industrial (M) Sdn Bhd
Choo Kah Sing J
(Utilities; Limitation - Electricity - Tampering of meter - Discovery of extra cables from transformer rooms to main switch boards that do not pass through electricity meters) [2019] 4 CLJ 546 [HC]

• For the plaintiff - Izatulina Jamaluddin & Amierul Sharafi; M/s Othman Hashim & Co
• For the defendant - GK Sritharan & Sivasangker; M/s GK Sritharan & Co 

SUBJECT INDEX

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Judicial review - Local authority - Dismissal from service - Failure to give reasonable opportunity to be heard - Whether clear breach s. 16(4) of Local Government Act 1976 ('LGA') and reg. 29(1) of Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Municipal Council of the Province Wellesley Regulations 1995 ('1995 Regulations') - Whether right to be heard nullified by reg. 25(2)(a) of 1995 Regulations - Whether reg. 25(2)(a) in conflict with s. 16(4) of LGA and reg. 29(1) - Whether construction that favoured employee ought to be given - Whether mandatory for employee to be served with show cause notice - Whether failure to afford right to be heard rendered dismissal unsustainable in law
Pihak Berkuasa Tatatertib Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai & Anor v. Muziadi Mukhtar
(Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof, Mary Lim JJCA) [2019] 4 CLJ 466 [CA]

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Contempt of court - Committal proceedings - Application for leave based on breach of inspection order - Requirements - Whether inspection order specified time for compliance - Whether failure to stipulate time for compliance negated enforcement of committal proceedings - Whether vague and too wide - Whether inspection order a positive order requiring personal service - Rules of Court 2012, O. 42 r. 6(1) & O. 45 r. 5
Dato' Seri Timor Shah Rafiq v. Nautilus Tug & Towage Sdn Bhd
(Mohd Nazlan Ghazali J) [2019] 4 CLJ 491 [HC]

Contempt of court - Committal proceedings - Setting aside leave for committal proceedings - Application for - Whether application out of time - Whether delay caused prejudice - Whether extension of time ought to be allowed - Whether reasonable explanation proffered for allowing extension of time - Rules of Court 2012, O. 42 r. 13
Dato' Seri Timor Shah Rafiq v. Nautilus Tug & Towage Sdn Bhd
(Mohd Nazlan Ghazali J) [2019] 4 CLJ 491 [HC]

Judicial review - Application for - Director-General of Customs dismissed taxpayer's application for special refund of sales tax for goods held on hand - Application to quash decision - Whether application filed within time - Whether court ought to exercise discretion for extension of time - Whether there was 'good reason' for court to exercise extension of time - Rules of Court 2012, O. 53 r. 3(6) & (7)
Ketua Pengarah Kastam Dan Eksais v. Coach Malaysia Sdn Bhd
(Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid, Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof JJCA) [2019] 4 CLJ 454 [CA]

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Prosecution - Prosecuting officer - Application to disqualify Prosecutor from continuing to act as Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor or to appear on behalf of Public Prosecutor - Appointment of Prosecutor made known through media release - Whether made under provisions of s. 376(3) Criminal Procedure Code - Whether letter of appointment ought to be produced - Whether applicant had right to request for copy of letter of appointment - Whether letter of appointment classified as official secret under Official Secrets Act 1972 - Whether Prosecutor involved in investigations of cases - Whether there was breach of r. 28(1) of Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1970 - Whether applicant's apprehension or fears of overzealous prosecution based upon mere speculation and unfounded - Whether threshold for disqualification of Prosecutor met
Mohd Najib Hj Abd Razak v. PP
(Collin Lawrence Sequerah J) [2019] 4 CLJ 514 [HC]

LAND LAW

Acquisition of land - Compensation - Compensation paid into court by Land Administrator - Determination of rightful party entitled to compensation - Whether losing party to bear burden of paying interest on payment into court - Whether respondent, being unsuccessful in claim for compensation, to pay interest on all compensation sums - Power to award interest under s. 11 of Civil Law Act 1956 - Whether applicable - Whether only applies to proceedings tried in court for recovery of debts and not in matters relating to land acquisition - Whether cause of action pleaded or established to impose liability for interest on respondent - Land Acquisition Act 1960, ss. 2, 29(2), 29A(5), 32(1), (1B), 38(1) & 48 - Federal Constitution, art. 13
Bungsar Hill Holdings Sdn Bhd v. Damansara Realty Bhd
(Richard Malanjum CJ, Zaharah Ibrahim CJ (Malaya), David Wong Dak Wah CJ (Sabah & Sarawak), Azahar Mohamed, Rohana Yusuf FCJJ) [2019] 4 CLJ 429 [FC]

LEGAL PROFESSION

Practice of law - Practice and etiquette - Application to disqualify Prosecutor from continuing to act as Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor or to appear on behalf of Public Prosecutor - Appointment of Prosecutor made known through media release - Whether made under provisions of s. 376(3) Criminal Procedure Code - Whether letter of appointment ought to be produced - Whether applicant had right to request for copy of letter of appointment - Whether letter of appointment classified as official secret under Official Secrets Act 1972 - Whether Prosecutor involved in investigations of cases - Whether there was breach of r. 28(1) of Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1970 - Whether applicant's apprehension or fears of overzealous prosecution based upon mere speculation and unfounded - Whether threshold for disqualification of Prosecutor met
Mohd Najib Hj Abd Razak v. PP
(Collin Lawrence Sequerah J) [2019] 4 CLJ 514 [HC]

LIMITATION

Cause of action - Accrual - Discovery of tampering of electricity meter - Claim for losses of revenue suffered by electricity supplier - Whether limitation has set in when electricity supplier commenced action - When cause of action accrued - Whether calculation of losses and back charges correct
Tenaga Nasional Bhd v. ATA Industrial (M) Sdn Bhd
(Choo Kah Sing J) [2019] 4 CLJ 546 [HC]

REVENUE LAW

Goods and services tax - Special refund - Application for special refund of sales tax for goods held on hand - Application dismissed by Director-General of Customs - Decision to dismiss uploaded on taxpayer's Taxpayer Access Point account - Taxpayer received notification of decision via e-mail - Date of decision communicated to taxpayer - Whether taxpayer's application for judicial review premature - Whether taxpayer exhausted all available remedies before coming to court - Goods and Services Tax Act 2014, ss. 20, 124, 167(3) & 190
Ketua Pengarah Kastam Dan Eksais v. Coach Malaysia Sdn Bhd
(Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid, Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof JJCA) [2019] 4 CLJ 454 [CA]

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

Construction of statutes - Rule of construction - Right to be heard - Conflict between reg. 25(2)(a) of Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Municipal Council of the Province Wellesley Regulations 1995 ('1995 Regulations') with s. 16(4) of Local Government Act 1976 ('LGA') and reg. 29(1) of 1995 Regulations - Whether subsidiary legislation could not be inconsistent with or override Act of Parliament - Whether construction that favoured employee ought to be given - Whether reg. 25(a) void vis-à-vis s. 16(4)
Pihak Berkuasa Tatatertib Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai & Anor v. Muziadi Mukhtar
(Abdul Rahman Sebli, Zaleha Yusof, Mary Lim JJCA) [2019] 4 CLJ 466 [CA]

Land Acquisition Act 1960 - Sections 29A(5), 32(1), (1B) & s. 48 - Acquisition of land - Compensation - Late payment charges imposed for delay in paying compensation - Whether original interest-based payment replaced by late payment charges pursuant to Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act 1997 - Whether excluded any payment of interest by Land Administrator or by any other person
Bungsar Hill Holdings Sdn Bhd v. Damansara Realty Bhd
(Richard Malanjum CJ, Zaharah Ibrahim CJ (Malaya), David Wong Dak Wah CJ (Sabah & Sarawak), Azahar Mohamed, Rohana Yusuf FCJJ) [2019] 4 CLJ 429 [FC]

UTILITIES

Electricity - Tampering of meter - Discovery of extra cables from transformer rooms to main switch boards that do not pass through electricity meters - Actual consumption of electricity not accurately recorded by meters - Whether owner of premises caused tampering of meters - Whether owner of premises constructed cables at transformer rooms without knowledge of electricity supplier - Whether owner of premises had means to carry out installation of extra cables without first switching off supply of electricity - Whether owner of premises had access to electricity substation - Whether calculation for back charges correct - Whether limitation set in - Whether doctrine of ex turpi causa non oritur actio applicable - Electricity Supply Act 1990, s. 38(3)
Tenaga Nasional Bhd v. ATA Industrial (M) Sdn Bhd
(Choo Kah Sing J) [2019] 4 CLJ 546 [HC]

INDEKS PERKARA

UNDANG-UNDANG JENAYAH

Pengubahan wang haram - Pelucuthakkan - Permohonan penyiaran notis dalam Warta - Hakim bicara menolak permohonan atas alasan pihak pendakwaan gagal membuktikan permohonan melucut hak harta-harta - Hakim bicara tidak menyentuh atau memberi keputusan tentang permohonan penyiaran notis dalam Warta - Sama ada keseluruhan permohonan boleh dibicarakan tanpa terlebih dahulu memberi perintah penyiaran notis dalam Warta - Sama ada hakim bicara mematuhi tatacara yang digariskan - Akta Pencegahan Pengubahan Wang Haram, Pencegahan Pembiayaan Keganasan dan Hasil Daripada Aktiviti Haram 2001, ss. 56(1) & 61(2)
PP lwn. Taiko Fertiliser & Yang Lain
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Kamardin Hashim, Ab Karim Ab Jalil HHMR) [2019] 4 CLJ 480 [CA]

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LNS Article(s)

1. SAFETY... YOU WILL REGRET IT IF YOU FORGET
   OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: THE MALAYSIAN PERSPECTIVE ^{[Read excerpt]}
   by UMMA DEVI LOGANATHAN* [2019] 1 LNS(A) lvii

[2019] 1 LNS(A) lvii



MALAYSIA

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SAFETY... YOU WILL REGRET IT IF YOU FORGET
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY:
THE MALAYSIAN PERSPECTIVE

by
UMMA DEVI LOGANATHAN*

1.1 Introduction

One bad day at the grinder could ruin your whole life. It is an undeniable fact that employees are the most important assets of the business industries and their safety is a paramount consideration. In referring to the Highland Towers tragedy in 1974,^[1] when the purported architect (who represented himself as a registered qualified architect) was told to stop construction works until the appropriate drainage system for the natural stream was incorporated in the proposed layout plan but failed to do so, James Foong J (as he then was) at the High Court of Malaya in Steven Phoa Cheng Loon & Ors v. Highland Properties Sdn Bhd & Ors [2000] 4 CLJ 508; [2000] 4 MLJ 200 remarked, “I have reiterated my strong sentiments against this type of attitude of professionals whose only consideration is to guard and secure their own interest rather than their duties and obligations to those closely affected and the public on which so much faith and reliance are placed on them to carry out their professional duties.

. . .

* Magistrate, LLB (Hons) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Masters in Public Administration (MPA) Universiti Sains Malaysia, LLM (Corporate) Universiti Utara Malaysia. Currently, pursuing PhD in criminology at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

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2. NORMS AND ETHICS OF ISLAMIC BANKING SYSTEM: EXAMINING THE TRIBULATIONS OF RIBA VIS-Á-VIS TEXTUAL PROVISIONS ^{[Read excerpt]}
   by Abdulraheem Taofeeq Abolaji*AbdulGaniyu Bello** [2019] 1 LNS(A) lvi

[2019] 1 LNS(A) lvi



NIGERIA

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NORMS AND ETHICS OF ISLAMIC BANKING SYSTEM:
EXAMINING THE TRIBULATIONS OF RIBA VIS-Á-VIS TEXTUAL PROVISIONS

by
Abdulraheem Taofeeq Abolaji*
AbdulGaniyu Bello**

Abstract

Riba or interest has been the universal phenomenon not only in transactions among individuals but also in the banking industry and this has resulted in hardship. Therefore, this article traces the ills of Riba in the Islamic context from textual authorities and explores the contemporary evidence supporting its prohibition. The research is carried out through a qualitative approach by using the doctrinal method to analyse primary and secondary sources. It attempts to examine some hardship and illness caused by Riba (interest) to individuals, the nation and the world at large. It also shows with contemporary evidence that Riba was responsible for a part of the economic crisis of some nations.

. . .

* Ph.D LL.M, LL.B, Department of Islamic Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin. Email: raheembj@yahoo.com.

** Lecturer, Kwara State Polytechnics, Ilorin, Kwara State.

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CLJ Article(s)

1. DEFAMATION BY CONDUCT: ACTIONABLE IN LAW OR NOT? AN OVERVIEW OF THE MALAYSIAN POSITION ^{[Read excerpt]}
   by EDWARD KURUVILLA* [2019] 4 CLJ(A) xix

[2019] 4 CLJ(A) xix



MALAYSIA

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DEFAMATION BY CONDUCT: ACTIONABLE IN LAW OR NOT? AN OVERVIEW OF THE MALAYSIAN POSITION

by
EDWARD KURUVILLA*

Abstract

Unlike claims for defamation founded on the written word (libel) or the spoken word (slander), where the law remained settled for close to a century, there has been much ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding claims for defamation founded on conduct. In Malaysia, the foremost pronouncement on this area of law was by the Court of Appeal in Proton Parts Centre Sdn Bhd v. Mohamed Zainal & Another Appeal [2010] 1 CLJ 348, which did very little to clarify the legal position.

The decision of the Court of Appeal appears to depart from the common law legal position and - as decisions that followed have shown - this area of law remains far from resolved. Simply put, there are - at present - too many questions and too few answers. This paper: (i) examines the common law legal position leading up to the pronouncement in 2009; (ii) considers in detail the decision in Proton Parts Centre Sdn Bhd itself and its impact on subsequent cases; and (iii) proposes four questions of law for determination by the Federal Court, where it is argued, upon mature consideration thereof, would definitively settle any ambiguity or uncertainty in this elusive area of law.

. . .

* Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.

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