CLJ Bulletin, Issue 2012, Vol 10

                                                                                                                                                                                                           9 March 2012

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New This Week 1. Case Of The Week
2. Latest Cases
    a) Legal Network Series
    b) CLJ Volume 1 (Part 8) 2012
3. Articles
      a) Legal Network Series Articles
4. Legislation Highlights

CASE OF THE WEEK

KAMARIAH ALI & ANOR v. MAJLIS AGAMA ISLAM DAN ADAT MELAYU TERENGGANU & ORS

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Courts - Jurisdiction - Civil and Syariah Courts - Apostasy - Whether within the exclusive domain of Syariah Court - Federal Constitution, art. 121(1A) - Enakmen Mahkamah Syariah (Terengganu) 2001, s. 11(3)(b)(x) - Administration of Islamic Religious Affairs Enactment 1986, s. 205(2)

ISLAMIC LAW: Apostasy - Jurisdiction - Whether within the exclusive domain of Syariah Court - Federal Constitution, art. 121(1A) - Enakmen Mahkamah Syariah (Terengganu) 2001, s. 11(3)(b)(x) - Administration of Islamic Religious Affairs Enactment 1986, s. 205(2)


2. Latest Cases

a) Legal Network Series

CITATION TITLE SUBJECT
[2009] 1 LNS 1 1365 [HC] Norazian Mohd Adnan v. Gale Force Sdn Bhd

LAND LAW: Sale of land - Auction - Caveat - Plaintiff successful bidder - Subsequent discovery of private caveat lodged on land - Failure by plaintiff to make search on property - No attempt by plaintiff to remove caveat - Plaintiff claiming memorandum of sale of property was void for common mistake and frustrated due to caveat - Demand for refund of deposit - Whether plaintiff could have applied to remove caveat - Whether plaintiff in breach of memorandum of sale by failing to pay balance purchase price on time - Whether deposit reasonably forfeited by defendant

[2009] 1 LNS 1370 [HC] PP v. Sersang @ Ah Pok Ah Her

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Sentence - Culpable homicide - Mitigating factors - Plea of guilty - Deceased angry with accused for only wearing his briefs - Accused just robbed of his valuables and clothes - Public interest and the interest of deceased's family - Whether extenuating circumstances present in accused's mitigation which did not merit a severe sentence being meted out - Whether 12 years imprisonment an appropriate sentence

[2009] 1 LNS 1384 [HC] Teknik Naga Sdn Bhd v. Allianz General Insurance Malaysia Bhd

INSURANCE: Insured peril - Relevant insured peril or risks covered under Policy related to loss due to "burglary, housebreaking or theft" - Whether loss of excavator within cover of Policy - Whether "burglary, housebreaking or theft" must be as defined under Penal Code - Whether construction of such terms should be given their ordinary meaning and understanding - Whether circumstances of loss of excavator within meaning and scope of Policy

INSURANCE: Insurance against loss and damage to property - Loss - Possible breach of condition 3 of policy - Whether plaintiff failed to take precautions or reasonable steps to safeguard valuable excavator - Excavator moved away from suspended project site and placed temporarily at plaintiff's sister company - Premises fenced and padlocked - Whether plaintiff discharged its duty imposed in condition 3 of Policy

[2011] 1 LNS 121 [HC] Tan Bee Ang v. Siew Chee Choong

CIVIL PROCEDURE: Judgment and orders - Consent Order - Petitioner seeking to amend Decree Nisi to enable petitioner to enforce Decree or Order - Whether Court could vary or amend a Decree Nisi which had already been made absolute - Whether exceptional circumstances faced by petitioner to warrant intervention by Court

CIVIL PROCEDURE: Judgment and orders - Consent Order - No indorsement of a penal notice in Decree Nisi which was recorded as a Consent Order - Non-compliance by a party to terms of Consent Order - Whether penal indorsement as required by the Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 45 r. 7(4) necessary - Whether an amendment to Decree Nisi by inserting penal indorsement should be allowed

[2011] 1 LNS 453 [HC] Ding Kuong Hiing v. Wong Hua Seh

CIVIL PROCEDURE: Writ of summons - Indorsement - Whether non-compliance of Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 78 r. 2 - Statement of Claim annexed to the Writ and served together - Whether purpose of r. 2 of O. 78 achieved - Whether indorsement as appeared in Writ in compliance with O. 27 r. 2

TORT: Defamation - Libel and/or malicious falsehood - Whether articles in question were defamatory of plaintiff and/or false - Whether failure to specify particular or specific passage(s) or words alleged to be defamatory was embarrassing - Whether submission of long article derived from 4 publications without particularising defamatory words or passage was defective

TORT: Malicious falsehood - Plaintiff's failure to plead special damage and to take advantage of s. 6 of the Defamation Act 1957 - Particulars of falsity of publication absent - Whether action for malicious falsehood ought to be struck out for disclosing no cause of action

TORT: Defamation - Libel and/or malicious falsehood - Defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege - Whether there was just cause for the four publications - Whether words complained of were fair comments - Whether proper stage to consider defences pleaded by defendant was at the trial

TORT: Defamation action - Libel - Whether striking out under Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 14A or O. 18 r. 19 could be employed in a libel action - Whether action should go to trial to decide whether words complained of were in fact defamatory of plaintiff - Whether questions in paragraph 1 (c) and (d) not suitable for consideration by way of O. 14A and O. 18 r. 19

^^

b. CLJ Volume 1 (Part 8) 2012

COURT

COURT OF APPEAL

Samugen Pakri & Ors v. PP
Hasan Lah, Sulong Matjeraie, Sulaiman Daud JJCA
(Criminal Law; Evidence - Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Section 39B(1)(a) - Adverse inference - Agent provocateur - Witness) [2012] 1 CLJ 937 [CA]

Tahan Steel Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd
Abu Samah Nordin, Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, Aziah Ali JJCA
(Banking; Contract; Evidence; Islamic Law - Nominal damages - Witness - Credibility - Islamic banking - Repudiatory breach of Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements by bank) [2012] 1 CLJ 959 [CA]

HIGH COURT

Kandu Sugang & Anor v. Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
Ravinthran Paramaguru JC
(Administrative Law; Labour Law - Judicial Review - Decision by the Industrial Court - Dismissal) [2012] 1 CLJ 996 [HC]

Lai King Lung v. Perbadanan Pengurusan Anjung Hijau & Anor
Prasad Sandosham Abraham JC
(Land Law - Strata title - Management corporation - By-laws - 'house rules' as by-laws - Whether ultra vires Strata Titles Act 1985 [2012] 1 CLJ 1013 [HC]

Malayan Banking Bhd v. Koh Tian Joo & Ors
Hamid Sultan Abu Backer J
(Contract - Building contract - Set-off - Subcontractor formally assigned contract proceeds to plaintiff - Whether main contractor could exercise set-off) [2012] 1 CLJ 1022 [HC]

Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
Gunalan Muniandy PK
(Keterangan; Kontrak; Prosedur Sivil; Undang-undang Tanah - Anggapan bertentangan - Kegagalan memanggil saksi untuk membuktikan representasi yang dikatakan - Representasi oleh pemimpin-pemimpin politik negara dan Pejabat Tanah mengenai hak plaintif untuk menggunakan tanah kerajaan - Pemberimilikan tanah Kerajaan Negeri) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

SUBJECT INDEX

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Judicial Review - Certiorari - Application to quash decision by the Industrial Court - Whether Industrial Court committed procedural impropriety - Whether Industrial Court was right in evaluating evidence de novo - Whether Industrial Court erred in considering reasons other than for dismissal - Whether interference warranted
Kandu Sugang & Anor v. Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
(Ravinthran Paramaguru JC) [2012] 1 CLJ 996 [HC]

BANKING

Banks and banking business - Islamic banking - Repudiatory breach of Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements by bank - Failure of borrower to prove damages arising from breach - Whether only nominal damages to be awarded - Whether security documents formed part of the Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements - Whether termination of the Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements rendered the security documents being discharged or cancelled - Whether bank's repudiatory breach absolved borrower from liability to repay the loan facility
Tahan Steel Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd
(Abu Samah Nordin, Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, Aziah Ali JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 959 [CA]

CONTRACT

Breach - Damages - Nominal damages - Repudiatory breach of Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements by bank - Failure of borrower to prove damages arising from breach - Whether only nominal damages to be awarded
Tahan Steel Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd
(Abu Samah Nordin, Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, Aziah Ali JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 959 [CA]

Breach - Fundamental breach - Islamic banking - Repudiatory breach of Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements by bank - Failure of borrower to prove damages arising from breach - Whether only nominal damages to be awarded - Whether security documents formed part of the Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements - Whether termination of the Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements rendered the security documents being discharged or cancelled - Whether bank's repudiatory breach absolved borrower from liability to repay the loan facility
Tahan Steel Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd
(Abu Samah Nordin, Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, Aziah Ali JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 959 [CA]

Building contract - Set-off - Main contractor agreed to pay plaintiff contract proceeds due to subcontractor without reservation - Subcontractor formally assigned proceeds to plaintiff - Main contractor signified acceptance on Notice of Assignment - No clause in subcontract letter of award or in assignment for main contractor to claim set-off against assigned proceeds - Whether main contractor could exercise set-off or withhold proceeds to defeat plaintiff's interests
Malayan Banking Bhd v. Koh Tian Joo & Ors
(Hamid Sultan Abu Backer J) [2012] 1 CLJ 1022 [HC]

CRIMINAL LAW

Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Section 39B(1)(a) - Trafficking - Appeal against conviction - Failure to call informer - Whether prosecution required to call informer as witness - Informer's role merely as introducer - Whether informer actually an agent provocateur and must be called as a witness - Whether adverse inference could be invoked against prosecution - Evidence Act 1950, s. 114(g)
Samugen Pakri & Ors v. PP
(Hasan Lah, Sulong Matjeraie, Sulaiman Daud JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 937 [CA]

Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Section 39B(1)(a) - Trafficking in 45,496.6 grams cannabis - Appeal against conviction - Whether there was a sale of the proscribed drugs - Whether the informer was an agent provocateur - Whether there were contradictions in the evidence of prosecution witness - Whether defence raised any reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case - Whether common intention proven - Whether conviction justified
Samugen Pakri & Ors v. PP
(Hasan Lah, Sulong Matjeraie, Sulaiman Daud JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 937 [CA]

EVIDENCE

Adverse inference - Whether presumption arose - Failure to call informer as witness - Whether informer actually an agent provocateur and must be called as a witness - Whether adverse inference could be invoked against prosecution - Evidence Act 1950, s. 114(g)
Samugen Pakri & Ors v. PP
(Hasan Lah, Sulong Matjeraie, Sulaiman Daud JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 937 [CA]

Agent provocateur - Informer, distinguished from - Failure of prosecution to call witness - Whether witness an agent provocateur or mere informer
Samugen Pakri & Ors v. PP
(Hasan Lah, Sulong Matjeraie, Sulaiman Daud JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 937 [CA]

Witness - Credibility - Assessment of credibility and demeanor of witness - Whether appellate interference required - Whether findings are clearly wrong or erroneous - Whether trial judge had not considered relevant matters or had taken into account irrelevant matters
Tahan Steel Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd
(Abu Samah Nordin, Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, Aziah Ali JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 959 [CA]

Witness - Failure of prosecution to call informer as witness - Whether witness an agent provocateur or mere informer - Whether adverse inference under s. 114(g) Evidence Act 1950 could be invoked against prosecution
Samugen Pakri & Ors v. PP
(Hasan Lah, Sulong Matjeraie, Sulaiman Daud JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 937 [CA]

ISLAMIC LAW

Islamic banking - Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements - Repudiatory breach of Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements by bank - Failure of borrower to prove damages arising from breach - Whether only nominal damages to be awarded - Whether security documents formed part of the Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements - Whether termination of the Al-Istisnaa' facility agreements rendered the security documents being discharged or cancelled - Whether bank's repudiatory breach absolved borrower from liability to repay the loan facility
Tahan Steel Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd
(Abu Samah Nordin, Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, Aziah Ali JJCA) [2012] 1 CLJ 959 [CA]

LABOUR LAW

Industrial Court - Dismissal - Applicants President and Secretary of employees union - Dismissed for participating in disrupting event organised by company - Whether clothed with immunity by way of position held - Whether dismissal with just cause or excuse
Kandu Sugang & Anor v. Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
(Ravinthran Paramaguru JC) [2012] 1 CLJ 996 [HC]

LAND LAW

Strata title - By-laws - Management corporation prohibiting unit owner from placing air-conditioned compressor outside unit on balcony - 'House rules' issued by developer - Relationship of - Whether management corporation passed by way of special resolution to adopt 'house rules' as by-laws - Strata Titles Act 1985, 3rd Schedule - Whether 'house rules' ultra vires of the Strata Titles Act 1985 - Strata Titles Act 1985, s. 44(1) & (2) - Paganetto v. Management Corporation Strata Title No. 1075
Lai King Lung v. Perbadanan Pengurusan Anjung Hijau & Anor
(Prasad Sandosham Abraham JC) [2012] 1 CLJ 1013 [HC]

Strata title - Management corporation - Prohibiting unit owner from placing air-conditioned compressor outside unit on balcony - 'House rules' issued by developer - Relationship of - Whether management corporation passed by way of special resolution to adopt 'house rules' as by-laws - Strata Titles Act 1985, 3rd Schedule - Whether 'house rules' ultra vires the Strata Titles Act 1985 - Strata Titles Act 1985, s. 44(1) & (2) - Paganetto v. Management Corporation Strata Title No. 1075
Lai King Lung v. Perbadanan Pengurusan Anjung Hijau & Anor
(Prasad Sandosham Abraham JC) [2012] 1 CLJ 1013 [HC]

INDEKS PERKARA

KETERANGAN

Anggapan bertentangan - Kegagalan memanggil saksi untuk membuktikan representasi yang dikatakan - Tiada sebab saksi-saksi tidak dapat dipanggil - Sama ada membawa kepada anggapan bertentangan - Akta Keterangan s. 114(g)
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

Katadengar - Sama ada keterangan material mengenai representasi oleh pemimpin-pemimpin negara dan Pejabat Tanah adalah katadengar - Sama ada keterangan itu boleh digunapakai untuk membuktikan bahawa representasi tersebut memang dibuat
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

KONTRAK

Kata-kata dan tindakan - Sama ada menjadi satu dorongan - Representasi oleh pemimpin-pemimpin politik negara dan Pejabat Tanah mengenai hak plaintif untuk menggunakan tanah kerajaan - Sama ada representasi dan dorongan dibuktikan - Sama ada mewujudkan satu kontrak yang sah - Sama ada plaintif adalah penceroboh dan boleh diusir dari tanah tersebut
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

Kemungkiran - Kontrak berpunca dari representasi - Representasi oleh pemimpin-pemimpin politik negara dan Pejabat Tanah mengenai hak plaintif untuk menggunakan tanah kerajaan - Sama ada representasi dan dorongan dibuktikan - Sama ada mewujudkan satu kontrak yang sah - Sama ada plaintif adalah penceroboh dan boleh diusir dari tanah tersebut
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

Perlaksanaan spesifik - Pra-syarat untuk memberikan perintah perlaksanaan spesifik - Sama ada satu kontrak yang sah wujud - Sama ada kontrak telah dimungkiri
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

PROSEDUR SIVIL

Pliding - Fakta-fakta yang tidak diplidkan - Sama ada mahkamah boleh membuat keputusan atas perkara-perkara atau isu-isu yang tidak diplidkan
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

UNDANG-UNDANG TANAH

Hakmilik - Pemberimilikan tanah Kerajaan Negeri - Sama ada hanya pihak berkuasa negeri yang boleh memberikan hakmilik atau kebenaran/lesen untuk menduduki tanah kerajaan negeri - Sama ada Pejabat Tanah telah membuat representasi kepada plaintif mengenai hak plaintif untuk menggunakan tanah kerajaan negeri
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

Pendudukan - Legitimate expectation - Sama ada representasi dibuat oleh pemimpin-pemimpin politik negara dan Pejabat Tanah mengenai hak plaintif untuk menggunakan tanah kerajaan - Sama doktrin 'Legitimate Expectation' terpakai
Zaiton Musa lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Johor
(Gunalan Muniandy PK) [2012] 1 CLJ 1047 [HC]

^^


3. Articles

a) Legal Network Series Articles

1. The Tyranny Of The Consumer Or The Rule Of Law* [Read excerpt]
By Lord Neuberger Of Abbotsbury, MR

2. Fast Passed Law With Flaws* [Read excerpt]
By Abu Bakar Munir**, Siti Hajar Mohd Yasin***

^^


4. Legislation Highlights

a) Principal Acts

NUMBER

TITLE

DATE COMING INTO FORCE

REPEALING

ACT 739 Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia Act 2012 Not Yet In Force - Nil -
ACT 740 Veterans Act 2012 Not Yet In Force - Nil -
ACT 741 Postal Services Act 2012 Not Yet In Force - Nil -
ACT 742 Finance Act 2012 See sections 3, 26, 30, 32 and 35 of Act 742 respectively - Nil -
ACT 743 Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012 Not Yet In Force - Nil -

b) Amending Acts

NUMBER

TITLE

DATE COMING INTO FORCE

PRINCIPAL / AMENDING ACT NO

ACT A1420 Copyright (Amendment) Act 2012 1 March 2012 [PU(B) 058/2012] ACT 332
ACT A1421 Police (Amendment) Act 2012 Not Yet In Force ACT 344
ACT A1422 Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2010 (Amendment) Act 2012 Not Yet In Force ACT 593
ACT A1423 Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2012 Not Yet In Force ACT 593
ACT A1424 Evidence (Amendment) Act 2012 Not Yet In Force ACT 56
ACT A1425 Standards Of Malaysia (Amendment) Act 2012 Not Yet In Force ACT 549

c) PU(A)

NUMBER TITLE DATE COMING INTO FORCE

PRINCIPAL / AMENDING ACT NO

PU(A) 045/2012 Co-Operative Societies (Koperasi Permodalan Felda Malaysia Berhad) (Exemption) Order 2012 17 February 2012 ACT 502
PU(A) 046/2012 Customs (Values) (Palm Oil) (No 8) Order 2012 20 February 2012 ACT 235
PU(A) 047/2012 Customs (Values) (Crude Petroleum Oil) (No 4) Order 2012 20 February 2012 ACT 235
PU(A) 048/2012 Proclamation - By His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, By The Grace Of Allah, Supreme Head Of The States And Territories Of Malaysia 21 February 2012 -
PU(A) 049/2012 Proclamation - By His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, By The Grace Of Allah, Supreme Head Of The States And Territories Of Malaysia 21 February 2012 -

d) PU(B)

NUMBER TITLE DATE COMING INTO FORCE

PRINCIPAL / AMENDING ACT NO

PU(B) 054/2012 Appointment Of Protection Officers Of The Anti-Trafficking In Persons And Anti-Smuggling Of Migrants Act 2007 14 February 2012 ACT 670
PU(B) 055/2012 Notice Regarding The Supplementary Electoral Roll For The Third Quarter Of The Year 2011 That Has Been Certified 16 February 2012 ACT 19
PU(B) 056/2012 Appointment Of Date Of Coming Into Operation Of The Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act 2012 20 February 2012 ACT A1414
PU(B) 057/2012 Appointment Of Deputy Public Prosecutor Of The Criminal Procedure Code 22 February 2012 ACT 593
PU(B) 058/2012 Appointment Of Date Of Coming Into Operation Of The Copyright (Amendment) Act 2012 22 February 2012 ACT A1420

e) Latest Bills

NUMBER TITLE DATE COMING INTO FORCE

PRINCIPAL / AMENDING ACT NO

DR 44/2011 Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Bill 2011 - -

^^


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