Back to Top

Print this page

Issue #51/2017 21 December 2017

New This Week Case(s) of the Week DR CHONG ENG LEONG v. TAN SRI HARRIS MOHD SALLEH [2017] 10 CLJ 657 Latest Cases Legal Network Series CLJ 2017 Volume 10 (Part 6) Articles LNS Article(s) CLJ Article(s) Legislation Highlights Principal Acts Amending Acts PU(A) PU(B) Legislation Alert

DR CHONG ENG LEONG v. TAN SRI HARRIS MOHD SALLEH [2017] 10 CLJ 657
COURT OF APPEAL, KOTA KINABALU
MOHD ZAWAWI SALLEH JCA, ABANG ISKANDAR JCA, AHMADI ASNAWI JCA
[CIVIL APPEAL NO: S-02-1392-08-2014]
26 APRIL 2017

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Article in newspaper – Whether defamatory of complainant – Natural and ordinary meaning of words contained in article – Whether contained negative connotations injurious to complainant’s reputation – Whether there was alternative meaning to words/statements contained in article – Whether there was malicious intent in publishing article – Whether defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege available to maker/speaker of words/statements contained in article – Defamation Act 1957, s. 8

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Defences – Justification – Libellous article in newspaper – Whether defence of justification available to maker of words/statements contained in article – Whether words/statements true – Whether evidence adduced to establish truth of grave accusations against complainant

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Defences – Qualified privilege – Libellous article in newspaper – Whether defence of qualified privilege available to maker/speaker of words/statements contained in article – Whether maker/speaker of words/ statements had legal, moral or social duty to make statements – Whether words/ statements came from governmental or public bodies

TORT: Defamation – Libel – Defences – Fair comment – Libellous article in newspaper – Whether defence of fair comment available to maker/speaker of words/ statements contained in article – Whether statements based on speaker’s or writer’s honest and impartial observation or opinion – Whether matter or subject was of public concern or interest – Whether statements made were statements of fact

CIVIL PROCEDURE: Appeal – Cross-appeal – Cross-appeal against substantive finding of court – Whether allowed in law – Whether cross-appeal related directly to main appeal – Rules of the Court of Appeal 1994, r. 8 

---

Legal Network Series

[2016] 1 LNS 1374	JMR CONSTRUCTION SDN BHD lwn. NANJING CHANGJIANG WATERWAY	TIMBANGTARA: Awad - Pembatalan - Pembatalan awad muktamad - Penimbangtara bertindak di luar bidangkuasa - Penimbangtara telah mengambil kira isu-isu di luar rujukan - Penerimaan keterangan secara klarifikasi selepas perbicaraan ditutup - Awad muktamad berbeza dengan awad interim - Sama ada penimbangtara adalah terikat dengan rujukan yang difailkan oleh kedua-dua pihak - Sama ada penimbangtara telah memberi pertimbangan yang salah - Sama ada tindakan penimbangtara telah memprejudiskan satu pihak - Sama ada penimbangtara telah bertindak secara berat sebelah - Sama ada awad muktamad wajar diketepikan - Akta Timbangtara 2005, s. 37(1)
[2017] 1 LNS 60	PRESTIGE GLOBAL RESOURCES SDN BHD lwn. GABUNGAN HARTAMAS SDN BHD	UNDANG-UNDANG SYARIKAT: Penggulungan - Penggantungan prosiding - Permohonan oleh penyumbang - Budi bicara mahkamah - Faktor-faktor untuk dipertimbangkan - Sama ada kes yang positif atau mencukupi di bawah seksyen 243 Akta Syarikat 1965 telah ditunjukkan - Sama ada kepentingan pelikuidasi, pemiutang atau penyumbang, kepentingan awam secara keseluruhan dan "commercial morality" merupakan faktor yang perlu dipertimbangkan - Sama ada ketiadaan bantahan oleh pelikuidasi dan pemiutang semata-mata menjadikan penggantungan otomatik - Sama ada penyumbang berupaya mengemukakan keterangan yang boleh dipercayai dan jelas yang menunjukkan responden boleh menjadi "commercially solvent" sekiranya prosiding terhadapnya digantung
[2017] 1 LNS 326	IN RE: MD SHARIFF AHMAD; EX-PARTE: ABDUL RASHID ABAS & ANOR	BANKRUPTCY: Creditor's petition - Application to set aside - Allegation that sum stated in bankruptcy notice was contrary to judgment - Sum stated in bankruptcy notice included interest over judgment - Non-compliance of bankruptcy rules - Creditor's petition did not follow format - Whether judgment creditor was allowed to charge interest - Whether breach had occasioned a miscarriage of justice - Whether bankruptcy proceedings were valid
[2017] 1 LNS 331	PATCO MALAYSIA BERHAD v. MUHAIYADI HORMEN & ANOR	ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Judicial review - Certiorari - Application to quash decision of Industrial Court - Industrial Court held dismissal was unjustified - Constructive dismissal - Employee addressed grounds which had been abandoned during trial in submission - Industrial Court had taken into account grounds which employee abandoned during trial - Whether Industrial Court committed a serious error of law - Whether Industrial Court had correctly applied law on constructive dismissal LABOUR LAW: Employment - Dismissal - Constructive dismissal - Employee relied on cumulative misconduct in claiming constructive dismissal - Contract test - Whether burden is on employee to establish that he was dismissed by his employer - Whether employee must plead cumulative misconduct of his employer - Whether employee must produce evidence at trial to demonstrate that each misconduct was so connected with culminating act of misconduct as to form part of same transaction LABOUR LAW: Employment - Dismissal - Constructive dismissal - Contract test - Removal of company car - Refusal to give internet password - Absence of express term in contract of employment regarding entitlement to a company car - Whether use of company car was discretion of employer - Whether removal of company car was a serious breach by itself and sufficient to consider constructive dismissal - Whether employee's job was adversely affected due to his inability to access the internet - Whether employer had breached a fundamental term of employee's contract of employment
[2017] 1 LNS 334	TETUAN NORASMADI & NORAINI lwn. MOHD WARDI MUSTAPHA	PROSEDUR SIVIL: Pembatalan - Writ saman dan pernyataan tuntutan - Tuntutan yuran guaman - Pelantikan peguam dipertikaikan - Kewujudan surat akuan yang membatalkan pelantikan peguam - Penghakiman diperolehi oleh peguam yang lain - Dakwaan paksaan dan pinjaman wang dalam pelantikan - Kegagalan plaintif memfailkan afidavit jawapan terhadap afidavit sokongan defendan - Sama ada segala pernyataan yang dibuat oleh defendan melalui afidavit sokongan telah diterima - Sama ada permohonan defendan wajar dibenarkan - Sama ada terdapat isu-isu yang layak untuk dibicarakan PROSEDUR SIVIL: Masa - Perlanjutan masa - Budi bicara mahkamah - Permohonan untuk perlanjutan masa untuk memfailkan afidavit dibuat secara tidak formal - Sama ada mahkamah mempunyai budi bicara untuk memberi perlanjutan masa - Sama ada budi bicara mahkamah perlu dibuat dengan alasan yang munasabah

---

CLJ 2017 Volume 10 (Part 6)

COURT OF APPEAL

Dr Chong Eng Leong v. Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh
Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abang Iskandar, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA
(Tort; Civil Procedure - Defamation - Libel - Article in newspaper) [2017] 10 CLJ 657 [CA]

Lay Hong Food Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Tiong Nam Logistics Solutions Sdn Bhd
Alizatul Khair Osman, Nallini Pathmanathan, Zabariah Mohd Yusof JJCA
(Contract; Limitation - Damages - Breach - Loss of profit) [2017] 10 CLJ 680 [CA]

PP lwn. Chung Cheng Seng & Yang Lain
Mohtaruddin Baki, Rohana Yusuf HHMR, Ab Karim Ab Jalil H
(Prosedur Jenayah - Rayuan terhadap keputusan hakim bicara meminda pertuduhan tertuduh-tertuduh kepada pertuduhan lebih ringan) [2017] 10 CLJ 699 [CA]

Zahida Mohamed Rafik v. Noor Azman Azemi
Lim Yee Lan, Badariah Sahamid, Hasnah Mohammed Hashim JJCA
(Tort - Defamation - Libel - Absolute privilege - Police report) [2017] 10 CLJ 717 [CA]

HIGH COURT

Alias Othman v. Clement Kua Hock Beng & Ors
Chan Jit Li JC
(Civil Procedure - Striking out - Statement of claim - Application for) [2017] 10 CLJ 733 [HC]

Hii Yii Ann v. Deputy Commissioner Of Taxation Of The Commonwealth Of Australia & Ors
S Nantha Balan J
(Civil Procedure - Jurisdiction - High Court - Retrospective assessment to tax on income derived from businesses outside as well as within Australia) [2017] 10 CLJ 743 [HC]

SUBJECT INDEX

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Appeal - Cross-appeal - Cross-appeal against substantive finding of court - Whether allowed in law - Whether cross-appeal related directly to main appeal - Rules of the Court of Appeal 1994, r. 8
Dr Chong Eng Leong v. Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abang Iskandar, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 657 [CA]

Jurisdiction - High Court - Retrospective assessment to tax on income derived from businesses outside as well as within Australia - Dispute in assessment of tax - Action filed against Deputy Commissioner of Taxation of Commonwealth of Australia, Commissioner of Taxation of Commonwealth of Australia and Government of Commonwealth of Australia as defendants - Striking out action on ground of sovereign immunity - Whether acts of defendants were of governmental or private in nature - Whether defendants could invoke principle of sovereign immunity
Hii Yii Ann v. Deputy Commissioner Of Taxation Of The Commonwealth Of Australia & Ors
(S Nantha Balan J) [2017] 10 CLJ 743 [HC]

Striking out - Statement of claim - Application for - Grounds of application - Whether action time barred - Whether witness in court enjoyed immunity from being sued - Whether no cause of action arose - Whether action ought to be struck out
Alias Othman v. Clement Kua Hock Beng & Ors
(Chan Jit Li JC) [2017] 10 CLJ 733 [HC]

CONTRACT

Damages - Breach - Contract for transportation and cold room storage facilities - Loss of profit - Claim for - Failure to produce primary documents to prove facts and amount as to loss of profit - Failure to call maker of summary of billings to explain basis of calculation of amount claimed - Whether real or factual evidence must be adduced - Whether mere summaries or general estimations insufficient - Loss of rental for trucks - Failure of defendant to make payments for road tax and insurance - Whether trucks could have been utilised without change of ownership effected - Whether plaintiff suffered loss of rental because trucks were not usable - Whether Judicial Commissioner failed to analyse all facts and evidence - Whether Judicial Commissioner erred in allowing claims
Lay Hong Food Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Tiong Nam Logistics Solutions Sdn Bhd
(Alizatul Khair Osman, Nallini Pathmanathan, Zabariah Mohd Yusof JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 680 [CA]

Termination - Notice of termination - Failure to issue six months' notice - Date of notice of termination a month before contract expired - Whether legally impossible to give requisite six months' notice - Whether contract itself expired before six months' notice of termination took effect - Whether claim for damages unsustainable
Lay Hong Food Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Tiong Nam Logistics Solutions Sdn Bhd
(Alizatul Khair Osman, Nallini Pathmanathan, Zabariah Mohd Yusof JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 680 [CA]

LIMITATION

Accrual of cause of action - Acknowledgment of debt - Whether there was acknowledgment that there was subsisting debt - Whether acknowledgment must be unequivocal - Whether claim for recovery of debt time barred - Limitation Act 1953, ss. 26(2) & 27
Lay Hong Food Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Tiong Nam Logistics Solutions Sdn Bhd
(Alizatul Khair Osman, Nallini Pathmanathan, Zabariah Mohd Yusof JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 680 [CA]

TORT

Defamation - Libel - Absolute privilege - Police report - Whether impugned words in article a regurgitation of police report - Whether doctrine of absolute privilege protects statements made in course of legal proceedings - Whether publication of article enjoyed protection of absolute privilege in ancillary manner - Whether defence of absolute privilege established
Zahida Mohamed Rafik v. Noor Azman Azemi
(Lim Yee Lan, Badariah Sahamid, Hasnah Mohammed Hashim JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 717 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Article in newspaper - Whether defamatory of complainant - Natural and ordinary meaning of words contained in article - Whether contained negative connotations injurious to complainant's reputation - Whether there was alternative meaning to words/statements contained in article - Whether there was malicious intent in publishing article - Whether defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege available to maker/speaker of words/statements contained in article - Defamation Act 1957, s. 8
Dr Chong Eng Leong v. Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abang Iskandar, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 657 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Defences - Fair comment - Libellous article in newspaper - Whether defence of fair comment available to maker/speaker of words/statements contained in article - Whether statements based on speaker's or writer's honest and impartial observation or opinion - Whether matter or subject was of public concern or interest - Whether statements made were statements of fact
Dr Chong Eng Leong v. Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abang Iskandar, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 657 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Defences - Justification - Libellous article in newspaper - Whether defence of justification available to maker of words/statements contained in article - Whether words/statements true - Whether evidence adduced to establish truth of grave accusations against complainant
Dr Chong Eng Leong v. Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abang Iskandar, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 657 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Defences - Qualified privilege - Libellous article in newspaper - Whether defence of qualified privilege available to maker/speaker of words/statements contained in article - Whether maker/speaker of words/statements had legal, moral or social duty to make statements - Whether words/statements came from governmental or public bodies
Dr Chong Eng Leong v. Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Abang Iskandar, Ahmadi Asnawi JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 657 [CA]

Defamation - Libel - Defence of justification - Whether truth of all material statements in words complained of established - Whether statements made correct imputations or conclusions drawn from proved facts - Whether defence of justification established
Zahida Mohamed Rafik v. Noor Azman Azemi
(Lim Yee Lan, Badariah Sahamid, Hasnah Mohammed Hashim JJCA) [2017] 10 CLJ 717 [CA]

INDEKS PERKARA

PROSEDUR JENAYAH

Rayuan - Rayuan oleh pihak pendakwaan - Rayuan terhadap keputusan hakim bicara meminda pertuduhan tertuduh-tertuduh kepada pertuduhan lebih ringan - Tertuduh-tertuduh dituduh melakukan rompakan berkumpulan dan membunuh - Tertuduh-tertuduh masing-masing bersenjatakan pistol - Mangsa rompakan mendengar bunyi tembakan luar rumah - Si mati dan dua anak peluru dijumpai luar rumah - Sama ada luka tembakan pada badan si mati disebabkan oleh peluru yang dijumpai - Sama ada peluru yang dijumpai padan dengan pistol yang digunakan oleh mana-mana tertuduh - Sama ada tindakan tertuduh-tertuduh terancang dan sehaluan - Sama ada semua tertuduh sama bertanggungan walaupun seorang tertuduh sahaja yang melepaskan tembakan - Sama ada pembelaan tertuduh-tertuduh berjaya membangkitkan keraguan munasabah - Kanun Keseksaan, ss. 395, 396 & 397
PP lwn. Chung Cheng Seng & Yang Lain
(Mohtaruddin Baki, Rohana Yusuf HHMR, Ab Karim Ab Jalil H) [2017] 10 CLJ 699 [CA]

---

LNS Article(s)

1. FOTOGRAFI FORENSIK: PERANAN DAN CABARAN DALAM SIASATAN JENAYAH ^{[Read excerpt]}
   RAMALINGGAM RAJAMANICKAM^[i] RAJA MUHAMMAD ZUHA RAJA KAMAL BASHAH^[ii]NOR SALWANA MAHASSAN^[iii] RAZ FARAH NINA RAZALI^[iv]JENNIFER SHALINI JHEYEAASEELAN^[v] NUR SABRINA SARAH ABD RAHMAN^[vi]GOH YEE ZE^[vii] [2017] 1 LNS(A) cii

[2017] 1 LNS(A) cii
MALAYSIA
---
FOTOGRAFI FORENSIK: PERANAN DAN CABARAN DALAM SIASATAN JENAYAH

RAMALINGGAM RAJAMANICKAM^[i] RAJA MUHAMMAD ZUHA RAJA KAMAL BASHAH^[ii]
NOR SALWANA MAHASSAN^[iii] RAZ FARAH NINA RAZALI^[iv]
JENNIFER SHALINI JHEYEAASEELAN^[v] NUR SABRINA SARAH ABD RAHMAN^[vi]
GOH YEE ZE^[vii]
Abstrak
Fotografi ialah salah satu medium yang digunakan untuk menzahirkan dan mendokumentasikan sesuatu melalui gambar. Kewujudan teknik ini telah bermula sejak pertengahan abad ke-19 dan telah melalui pelbagai fasa perkembangan sehingga ke hari ini. Fotografi forensik berperanan penting dalam merakamkan dan merekodkan setiap perkara yang kelihatan pada tempat kejadian jenayah. Dengan adanya teknik ini, pembinaan semula peristiwa yang telah berlaku di tempat kejadian boleh dilakukan di samping menjadikannya sebagai rekod kekal yang boleh dirujuk semula pada masa hadapan sekiranya diperlukan. Dari segi sumbangan fotografi terhadap sesuatu kes, kualiti fotografi amatlah penting. Nilai imej yang dikemukakan di mahkamah adalah lebih tinggi sekiranya imej tersebut mempunyai ciri-ciri seperti jelas, mudah dibaca dan boleh difahami. Tetapi, adalah bukan mudah untuk menghasilkan fotografi yang tinggi kualitinya. Ini kerana bidang fotografi bukanlah satu disiplin yang mudah dan senang untuk diuruskan. Bidang ini menjadi kompleks dari semasa ke semasa dan menempuh pelbagai cabaran dalam pengemukaan fotograf sebagai keterangan di mahkamah. Oleh itu, penulisan ini bertujuan meneliti peranan fotografi forensik dalam siasatan jenayah di samping mengenal pasti beberapa cabaran asas yang wujud dalam bidang ini di Malaysia. Sesungguhnya, fotografi forensik bukanlah satu bidang yang asing dalam sistem keadilan jenayah di Malaysia. Penggunaannya telah lama bermula di mahkamah dan sehingga kini, masih menjadi satu bentuk keterangan yang penting.
Kata kunci: fotografi forensik, pendokumentasian; peranan dan cabaran fotografi forensik
. . .

2. HAK ASASI DAN UNDANG-UNDANG KESALAHAN JENAYAH SYARIAH* ^{[Read excerpt]}
   MOHAMED AZAM MOHAMED ADIL [2017] 1 LNS(A) cvii

[2017] 1 LNS(A) cvii

MALAYSIA

---

HAK ASASI DAN UNDANG-UNDANG KESALAHAN JENAYAH SYARIAH*

MOHAMED AZAM MOHAMED ADIL

Isu yang sering dibangkitkan dalam forum perbincangan undang-undang ialah undang-undang kesalahan jenayah Syariah di Malaysia telah melampaui bidang kuasa Perlembagaan Persekutuan dalam persoalan hak asasi manusia. Sering dibahaskan bahawa undang-undang kesalahan jenayah Syariah mengongkong kebebasan manusia. Persoalannya, benarkah dakwaan ini?

Sebenarnya, Perkara 74(2) Perlembagaan Persekutuan memberi kuasa kepada setiap Dewan Undangan Negeri membuat undang-undang seperti yang terdapat dalam Jadual Kesembilan, Senarai II Senarai Negeri atau Senarai Bersama. Peruntukan dalam Senarai II Senarai Negeri "creation and punishment of offences by persons professing the religion of Islam against precepts of that religion, except in regard to matters included in the Federal List" merupakan satu peruntukan utama yang memberi kuasa seumpamanya kepada setiap Dewan Undang Negeri untuk menetapkan hukuman ke atas kesalahan yang dibuat oleh orang Islam terhadap kesalahan agama tersebut.

. . .

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

CLJ Article(s)

1. JUDICIAL REVIEW IN SECURITY OFFENCE CASES: THE MALAYSIAN EXPERIENCE ^{[Read excerpt]}
   HO PENG KWANG*ASSOC. PROF. DR JOHAN SHAMSUDDIN SABARUDDIN**DR SAROJA DHANAPAL*** [2017] 10 CLJ(A) i

[2017] 10 CLJ(A) i

MALAYSIA

---

JUDICIAL REVIEW IN SECURITY OFFENCE CASES: THE MALAYSIAN EXPERIENCE

HO PENG KWANG*
ASSOC. PROF. DR JOHAN SHAMSUDDIN SABARUDDIN**
DR SAROJA DHANAPAL***

Introduction

The fundamental principle which gave the courts the right to strike down any act which goes beyond any legal authority is the ultra vires rule. This concept of ultra vires has been accepted as the ground for the courts to apply the spirit and intent of the Legislature. Besides, it is to be noted that the courts' role is not restricted to control the limits of legal powers as legislated by Parliament; it must also take the role of ensuring that natural justice is done. Judicial review is generally sought by way of an application by the aggrieved person in the High Court^[1] against any act or decision made by the Executive which is deemed incoherent with the rule of law standards. Thus, judicial review of a governmental action in fact evokes challenges to the court in the performance of its judicial function to allow people to contest the decision of the authority. If a decision of an Executive is antithetical to law, the Judiciary is authorised under the law to declare it as invalid. This is the concept of what we discern as separation of government functions, which is a typical characteristic of a democratic state. The courts have a primary duty to interpret the laws passed by Parliament and ensure that they affirm or conform to the ideals of constitutionalism.

. . .

* PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (richo@siswa.um.edu.my)

** Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (johans@um.edu.my)

*** Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law University of Malaya (saroja.dhanapal@um.edu.my)

Principal Acts

Amending Acts

PU(A)

PU(B)

Legislation Alert