Bulletin_11

CLJ Bulletin, Vol 2007, Issue 11

30 March 2007

CLJ Law MALAYSIA

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New This Week -	1. CLJ March (Part 4) 2007
New This Week -	2. CLJ Supp March (Part 2) 2007

1. CLJ March (Part 4) 2007

COURT

FEDERAL COURT

Lembaga Tatatertib Peguam-Peguam v. Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Hassan
(Legal profession - Disciplinary proceeding - Whether Disciplinary Board could appoint Disciplinary Committee without appointing Investigating Tribunal) [2007] 2 CLJ 317

United Malayan Banking Corporation Bhd v. Ernest Cheong Yong Yin
(Costs - Getting-up fee - Review of) [2007] 2 CLJ 332

COURT OF APPEAL

Kerajaan Sarawak & Anor v. Abdul Wahab Abdullah
(Statutory interpretation - Sections 11(3), 16(1) Sarawak Forestry Corporation Ordinance 1995 - Purposive and literal approach - Review power of High Court) [2007] 2 CLJ 339

HIGH COURT

Foo Tye Electrical Engineering Sdn Bhd v. Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation
(Contract - Variation - Variation by conduct) [2007] 2 CLJ 354

In Re Anthony Chang Kim Fook, Deceased
(Coroner's inquiry - Verdict - Power of magistrate) [2007] 2 CLJ 362

Interscope Versicherung Sdn Bhd v. Sime Axa Assurance Bhd
(Arbitration - Stay - Application to vary stay order to bar defendant from pleading limitation at arbitration proceeding) [2007] 2 CLJ 370

SUBJECT INDEX

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Judicial review - High Court - Certiorari and mandamus - Public officers - Whether serving at pleasure of Government - Whether Government had discretion to choose where they were to serve within public service - Whether wrong of High Court to review such exercise of discretionary power - Sarawak Forestry Corporation Ordinance 1995, ss. 11(3), 16(1) - Federal Constitution, art. 132(2), (2A)
Kerajaan Sarawak & Anor v. Abdul Wahab Abdullah
(Abdul Aziz Mohamad, Azmel Maamor & Zaleha Zahari JJCA) [2007] 2 CLJ 339 [CA]

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Arbitration - Stay of proceedings - Plea of limitation - Application to vary stay order to bar defendant from pleading limitation at arbitration proceedings - Whether High Court had jurisdiction to vary earlier order for stay - Commissioner of the Federal Capital v. Insurance Company of North America - Consideration of - Arbitration Act 1952, s. 6
Interscope Versicherung Sdn Bhd v. Sime Axa Assurance Bhd
(Abdul Malik Ishak J) [2007] 2 CLJ 370 [HC]

Costs - Review - Getting-up fee - Arguing issues of bankruptcy and limitation in Federal Court - Respondent successful in High Court and Court of Appeal - Whether nothing much to prepare in relation to appeal in Federal Court - Award of RM 35,000 - Whether adequate - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 59 r. 36(5)
United Malayan Banking Corporation Bhd v. Ernest Cheong Yong Yin
(Nik Hashim FCJ) [2007] 2 CLJ 332 [FC]

CONTRACT

Breach - Variation of contract - Claim for work done - Laying of submarine cable - Cable washed away by river current - Whether loss to be borne by plaintiff - Whether entitled to be paid - Whether terms of contract varied by conduct of parties - Evidence Act 1950, s. 92(d)
Foo Tye Electrical Engineering Sdn Bhd v. Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation
(Linton Albert J) [2007] 2 CLJ 354 [HC]

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Coroner's inquiry - Verdict - Powers of magistrate - Whether penal offence could be specified in verdict - Whether improper of magistrate to have adverted to commission of any offence - Criminal Procedure Code, ss. 328, 335, 337, 339, 341A
In Re Anthony Chang Kim Fook, Deceased
(Sulong Matjeraie J) [2007] 2 CLJ 362 [HC]

LEGAL PROFESSION

Professional discipline - Misconduct - Disciplinary proceeding, procedure - Whether Disciplinary Board could forthwith appoint Disciplinary Committee to deal with complaint of misconduct against advocate and solicitor - Whether must first appoint Investigating Tribunal to inquire into complaint - Legal Profession Act 1976, ss. 94, 95, 99, 100, 102, 103A, 103B, 103C
Lembaga Tatatertib Peguam-Peguam v. Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Hassan
(Abdul Hamid Mohamad, Abdul Aziz Mohamad & Azmel Maamor FCJJ) [2007] 2 CLJ 317 [FC]

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

Construction of statutes - Legislative intent - Governing principles - Whether to adopt approach that would promote purpose and object of statute - Purposive approach - Whether applied only where doubt arose from words used - Words used precise and unambiguous - Whether to apply literal and strict construction - Sarawak Forestry Corporation Ordinance 1995, ss. 11(3), 16(1) - Federal Constitution, art. 132(2), (2A)
Kerajaan Sarawak & Anor v. Abdul Wahab Abdullah
(Abdul Aziz Mohamad, Azmel Maamor & Zaleha Zahari JJCA) [2007] 2 CLJ 339 [CA]

WORDS & PHRASES

"Cause of death" - Meaning of - Section 328 Criminal Procedure Code
In Re Anthony Chang Kim Fook, Deceased
(Sulong Matjeraie J) [2007] 2 CLJ 362 [HC]

"Determines" - Legal Profession Act 1976, s. 103A(a) - Import and purport - Whether denotes making of independent decision by Disciplinary Board - Whether vesting Disciplinary Board with independent and distinct power to appoint Disciplinary Committee forthwith in circumstance mentioned in para (a) of s. 103A
Lembaga Tatatertib Peguam-Peguam v. Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Hassan
(Abdul Hamid Mohamad, Abdul Aziz Mohamad & Azmel Maamor FCJJ) [2007] 2 CLJ 317 [FC]

2. CLJ Supp March (Part 2) 2007

COURT

HIGH COURT

Choy Ching Wan v. Land Development Specialist Sdn Bhd & Anor
(Contract - Specific performance - Breach of undertaking) [2007] 7 CLJ 393

Hamzah Najdi v. PP
(Criminal procedure - Appeal - Conviction and sentence, against) [2007] 7 CLJ 437

Sin Hai Estate Bhd & Ors v. Lim Jit Kim & Ors
(Civil procedure - Striking out - Writ and statement of claim - Appeal against) [2007] 7 CLJ 443

Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd v. Hew Hai Woon
(Land law - Charge - Enforcement of) [2007] 7 CLJ 454

Teresa Kuan Chin v. Chua Sze Chiang
(Family law - Matrimonial assets - Division of - Order for division of matrimonial assets) [2007] 7 CLJ 464

Wang Hsiang Construction (M) Sdn Bhd lwn. Tan Lee Siang & Satu Lagi
(Undang-undang tanah - Kaveat - Kaveat persendirian - Permohonan pembatalan) [2007] 7 CLJ 477

SUBJECT INDEX

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Action - Disposal of - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 14A - Appeal against - Determination of question of law - Whether an appropriate case for court to invoke O. 14A Rules of the High Court 1980 - Actual meaning of words in averments - Whether matters of controversy which must be determined after full trial - Whether could be dealt with or determined under O. 14A or O. 33 r. 2 RHC - Whether learned registrar erred
Sin Hai Estate Bhd & Ors v. Lim Jit Kim & Ors
(Low Hop Bing J) [2007] 7 CLJ 443 [HC]

Striking out - Writ and statement of claim - Appeal against - Determination of question of law - Whether an appropriate case for court to invoke O. 14A Rules of the High Court 1980 - Actual meaning of words in averments - Whether matters of controversy which must be determined after full trial - Whether could be dealt with or determined under O. 14A or O. 33 r. 2 RHC - Whether learned registrar erred
Sin Hai Estate Bhd & Ors v. Lim Jit Kim & Ors
(Low Hop Bing J) [2007] 7 CLJ 443 [HC]

CONTRACT

Specific performance - Breach of undertaking - Apartment allegedly given to plaintiff as gift - Second defendant's plea of no knowledge of letter of undertaking - Whether false and untrue - Whether plaintiff produced evidence to show continuous possession of apartment - Claim of renovation works done to apartment - Whether substantiated - Legal interests of plaintiff - Whether established - Whether plaintiff pleaded case succinctly - Whether second defendant denied plaintiff right of entitlement to apartment - Apartment sold to third party-Whether plaintiff deprived of obtaining remedy of specific performance - Whether order to be made against defendants for damages suffered by plaintiff - Whether plaintiff entitled to be awarded exemplary damages
Choy Ching Wan v. Land Development Specialist Sdn Bhd & Anor
(Abdul Malik Ishak J) [2007] 7 CLJ 393 [HC]

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Appeal - Conviction and sentence, against - Offence of statutory rape - Whether sessions court judge erred in fact and in law - Whether misdirection of sessions court judge fatally flawed - Whether there was a serious miscarriage of justice - Whether conviction quashed - Whether sentence set aside
Hamzah Najdi v. PP
(Linton Albert J) [2007] 7 CLJ 437 [HC]

FAMILY LAW

Maintenance - Payment of - Child's right to receive maintenance - Whether ceased on attaining age of 18 - Whether there was cause of action for maintenance - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, ss. 8, 76, 78, 81
Teresa Kuan Chin v. Chua Sze Chiang
(Clement Skinner J) [2007] 7 CLJ 464 [HC]

Maintenance - Payment of - Death of wife -Whether expired on death of wife - Whether wife's cause of action survived for benefit of estate - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, ss. 8, 76, 78, 81
Teresa Kuan Chin v. Chua Sze Chiang
(Clement Skinner J) [2007] 7 CLJ 464 [HC]

Matrimonial assets - Division of - Order for division of matrimonial assets - Whether hinges on decree of judicial separation - Whether decree of judicial separation pronounced or made - Death of wife - Whether marriage dissolved by death - Whether court unable to grant a decree of divorce or judicial separation - Whether wife's cause of action for division of matrimonial properties did not survive for the benefit of her estate - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, ss. 8, 76, 78, 81
Teresa Kuan Chin v. Chua Sze Chiang
(Clement Skinner J) [2007] 7 CLJ 464 [HC]

LAND LAW

Charge - Enforcement of - Whether charge relied upon fatally defective - Failure to provide copy of charge to defendant - Right of chargor - Whether unlawful for chargee bank to retain chargor's copy - Withholding chargor's copy of charge without lawful excuse - Whether charge unenforceable against defendant
Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd v. Hew Hai Woon
(Hishamudin Yunus J) [2007] 7 CLJ 454 [HC]

Charge - Order for sale - Application for - Whether charge relied upon fatally defective - Failure to provide copy of charge to defendant - Right of chargor - Whether unlawful for chargee bank to retain chargor's copy - Withholding chargor's copy of charge without lawful excuse - Whether charge unenforceable against defendant
Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd v. Hew Hai Woon
(Hishamudin Yunus J) [2007] 7 CLJ 454 [HC]

INDEKS PERKARA

UNDANG-UNDANG TANAH

Kaveat - Kaveat persendirian - Permohonan pembatalan - Kanun Tanah Negara, s. 327 - Sama ada plaintif pihak yang musykil (aggrieved) - Sama ada plaintif telah membayar harga belian hartanah yang sepenuhnya - Sama ada plaintif pemilik benefisial hartanah - Sama ada duti setem untuk pindahmilik hartanah telah dibayar - Sama ada plaintif layak memohon memotong kaveat-kaveat persendirian - Sama ada dibenarkan
Wang Hsiang Construction (M) Sdn Bhd lwn. Tan Lee Siang & Satu Lagi
(Rosnaini Saub PK) [2007] 7 CLJ 477 [HC]

Kaveat - Kaveat persendirian - Sama ada defendan-defendan mempunyai kepentingan yang boleh dikaveatkan - Bukti plaintif telah membayar sepenuhnya harga belian hartanah - Sama ada defendan pertama mempunyai apa-apa kepentingan lain di atas hartanah yang mengatasi statusnya sebagai pemilik berdaftar - Sama ada defendan kedua sepatutnya menarik balik kaveat - Sama ada defendan kedua boleh menafikan hak plaintif ke atas hartanah - Sama ada defendan kedua tiada hak untuk mengekalkan kaveat - Sama ada kaveat-kaveat persendirian dibatalkan
Wang Hsiang Construction (M) Sdn Bhd lwn. Tan Lee Siang & Satu Lagi
(Rosnaini Saub PK) [2007] 7 CLJ 477 [HC]

CASE OF THE WEEK

SARAVANAN THANGATHORAY v. SUBSHINI RAJASINGAM & ANOTHER APPEAL

FAMILY LAW: Children - Custody - Hindu couple separated and wife filed petition for divorce - Husband converted himself and their elder child to Islam - Wife sought injunction restraining husband from commencing or continuing with proceedings regarding marriage or children of marriage in Syariah Court - Whether High Court had jurisdiction to grant interlocutory relief sought - Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, s. 51 - Specific Relief Act 1950, s. 54(b) - Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993, s. 46(2)(b)(i) - Federal Constitution, arts. 3(1), 121(1), (1A) - Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984, s. 46(2)

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