Bulletin_33

CLJ Bulletin, Vol 2004, Issue 33
20 August 2004

Introduction:
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New This Week - CLJ August 2004

COURT

COURT OF APPEAL

Neoh Choo Ee & Co Sdn Bhd v. Vasalamany Govindasamy & Anor
(Appeal from subordinate court to High Court - Whether notice of appeal must set out questions of law involved in appeal) [2004] 3 CLJ 321

S Veerasingam v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor
(Plea in mitigation - Whether there is a separate right in law to make plea in mitigation before imposition of punishment) [2004] 3 CLJ 338

Abdul Karim Puk Mohamed Seeni v. Tahir Yaacob & Anor
(Registered owner - Whether appellant registered owner of a half-share in property) [2004] 3 CLJ 424

Chong Hin Trading Co Sdn Bhd & Ors v. Malayan Banking Bhd
(Triable issues - Whether there was a dispute as to total sum claimable) [2004] 3 CLJ 436

FEDERAL COURT

Kamariah Ali & Yang Lain lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan & Satu Lagi
(Habeas corpus - Pengisytiharan bahawa perayu-perayu telah keluar dari agama Islam) [2004] 3 CLJ 409

HIGH COURT

Affin Bank Bhd v. Tan Sri Kishu Tirathrai
(Execution - Stay) [2004] 3 CLJ 350

BHR Group Ltd (Uk) v. Witech Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Setting aside, application for - Principles applicable) [2004] 3 CLJ 362

Munisvaran Kannan v. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri Malaysia & Anor
(Construction of such legislation - Whether to be interpreted literally and strictly) [2004] 3 CLJ 375

Tan Kim Hor & Ors v. Tan Heng Chew & Ors
(Companies winding-up petition - Whether petitioners’ proposed amendments to petition barred by doctrines of res judicata and issue estoppel) [2004] 3 CLJ 401

Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial lwn. Gow Soo Tan
(Keselamatan sosial - Tuntutan pekerja di bawah Akta Keselamatan Sosial 1969) [2004] 3 CLJ 449

Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial lwn. Nor Azian Adnan
(Keselamatan sosial - Tuntutan pekerja di bawah Akta Keselamatan Sosial 1969) [2004] 3 CLJ 458

Ku Pon & Ors v. Pemandangan Sinar Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Negligence - Duty of care) [2004] 3 CLJ 466

SUBJECT INDEX

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Public servants - Disciplinary proceedings - Plea in mitigation - Whether there is a separate right in law to make plea in mitigation before imposition of punishment - Employee given opportunity to make representations on ‘liability’ but not in mitigation of penalty - Whether renders decision-making process of disciplinary committee bad - Reduction of salary - Termination of service in the public interest - Whether employee punished twice for one incident of misconduct
S Veerasingam v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor
(Abdul Kadir Sulaiman JCA, Pajan Singh Gill JCA, Rahmah Hussain JCA) [2004] 3 CLJ 338

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Appeal - Notice of appeal - Appeal from subordinate court to High Court - Whether notice of appeal must set out questions of law involved in appeal - Courts of Judicature Act 1964, ss. 3, 28 - Subordinate Courts Rules 1980, O. 49 - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 55
Neoh Choo Ee & Co Sdn Bhd v. Vasalamany Govindasamy & Anor
(Gopal Sri Ram JCA, Alauddin Mohd Sheriff JCA, Richard Malanjum JCA) [2004] 3 CLJ 321

Summary judgment - Loan facilities given by respondent bank - Triable issues - Whether there was a dispute as to total sum claimable - Whether letter of guarantee void and unenforceable - Whether summary judgment ought to be granted
Chong Hin Trading Co Sdn Bhd & Ors v. Malayan Banking Bhd
(Arifin Zakaria JCA, Mohd Ghazali Yusoff JCA, James Foong J) [2004] 3 CLJ 436

Execution - Stay - Fresh application by defendant to stay summary judgment obtained by plaintiff bank - Previous application for stay already rejected by registrar - No appeal therefrom to judge-in-chambers - Whether order of registrar final and conclusive - Whether fresh application possible - Res judicata and mala fides - New grounds to justify fresh application for stay, whether any - Special circumstances, whether any
Affin Bank Bhd v. Tan Sri Kishu Tirathrai
(Abdul Malik Ishak J) [2004] 3 CLJ 350

Execution - Stay - Principles applicable - Special circumstances - Nugatoriness of appeal, whether a special circumstance in itself - Special circumstances must relate to enforcement/execution of judgment and not to merits of appeal - Irrelevance of merits of appeal in stay applications - Injury to defendant’s reputation and businesses, whether a special circumstance - Whether execution of ‘money judgment’ would render defendant’s appeal nugatory
Affin Bank Bhd v. Tan Sri Kishu Tirathrai
(Abdul Malik Ishak J) [2004] 3 CLJ 350

Judgment - Default judgment - Setting aside, application for - Principles applicable - Whether judgment obtained regularly - Whether judgment in default of defence entered without notice to opposing counsel is irregular - Whether defendant must show prima facie defence on the merits in order to have default judgment set aside - Sarawak Advocates Ordinance (Practice & Etiquette) Rules 1988, r. 56 - What constitutes sufficient notice - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 19 r. 2 RHC
BHR Group Ltd (Uk) v. Witech Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Abdul Aziz Rahim JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 362

Judgment - Default judgment - Notice to opposing counsel - Nature and form of notice - What constitutes sufficient notice - Whether notice can be implicit, implied or indirect - Whether judgment in default of defence entered without explicit notice to opposing counsel is irregular - Sarawak Advocates Ordinance (Practice & Etiquette) Rules 1988, r. 56 - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 19 r. 2 RHC
BHR Group Ltd (Uk) v. Witech Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Abdul Aziz Rahim JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 362

Amendment - Petition - Companies winding-up petition - Whether petitioners’ proposed amendments to petition barred by doctrines of res judicata and issue estoppel - Whether ‘new events’ via proposed amendments already determined on their merits before - Whether there would be abuse of process of court - Principles in amendment of pleadings - Whether also applicable to winding-up petitions - Companies Act 1965, s. 221(2)(e) - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 20 rr. 5 & 7 - Injustice - Bona fides of application - Prejudice and compensation with costs - Character of suit
Tan Kim Hor & Ors v. Tan Heng Chew & Ors
(Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin J) [2004] 3 CLJ 401

COMPANY LAW

Winding-up - Petition - Amendment - Whether petitioners’ proposed amendments to petition barred by doctrines of res judicata and issue estoppel - Whether ‘new events’ via proposed amendments already determined on their merits before - Whether there would be abuse of process of court - Principles in amendment of pleadings - Whether also applicable to winding-up petitions - Companies Act 1965, s. 221(2)(e) - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 20 rr. 5 & 7 - Injustice - Bona fides of application - Prejudice and compensation with costs - Character of suit
Tan Kim Hor & Ors v. Tan Heng Chew & Ors
(Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin J) [2004] 3 CLJ 401

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Legislation - Legislation affecting fundamental liberties of the individual - Construction of such legislation - Whether to be interpreted literally and strictly
Munisvaran Kannan v. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri Malaysia & Anor
(KP Gengadharan Nair JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 375

Fundamental liberties - Liberty of person - Protection afforded by law - Whether every aspect of protection material - Whether the right to personal liberty may be curtailed by violation or omission of procedural or technical safeguards
Munisvaran Kannan v. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri Malaysia & Anor
(KP Gengadharan Nair JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 375

CONTRACT

Guarantee - Consideration - Whether letter of guarantee void and unenforceable because of past consideration - Whether letter of guarantee excluded operation of past consideration - Contracts Act 1950, s. 80
Chong Hin Trading Co Sdn Bhd & Ors v. Malayan Banking Bhd
(Arifin Zakaria JCA, Mohd Ghazali Yusoff JCA, James Foong J) [2004] 3 CLJ 436

LABOUR LAW

Employment - Wages - Claim for out-turn allowance - Whether allowance forming part of wages - Wages, definition of - Whether including all contractual payments other than those excluded by s. 2 of Employment Act 1955 - Whether workmen entitled to allowance - Employment Act 1955, s. 2, 60(1), 69
Neoh Choo Ee & Co Sdn Bhd v. Vasalamany Govindasamy & Anor
(Gopal Sri Ram JCA, Alauddin Mohd Sheriff JCA, Richard Malanjum JCA) [2004] 3 CLJ 321

Arbitration - Jurisdiction - Jurisdiction of Director General of Labour - Whether can inquire into and decide on disputes respecting wages and other payment due to employee where term of employment is governed by collective agreement - Whether jurisdiction lies with Industrial Court - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 33, 56 - Employment Act 1955, ss. 2, 60(1), 69
Neoh Choo Ee & Co Sdn Bhd v. Vasalamany Govindasamy & Anor
(Gopal Sri Ram JCA, Alauddin Mohd Sheriff JCA, Richard Malanjum JCA) [2004] 3 CLJ 321

LAND LAW

Indefeasibility of title and interests - Registered owner - Whether appellant registered owner of a half-share in property - Whether appellant held half-share on a resulting trust for benefit of deceased - Whether deceased and appellant were both purchasers of property - Whether issue of who contributed most towards purchase-monies a non-issue
Abdul Karim Puk Mohamed Seeni v. Tahir Yaacob & Anor
(Arifin Zakaria JCA, Mohd Ghazali Yusoff JCA, Azmel Maamor J) [2004] 3 CLJ 424

LEGAL PROFESSION

Practice and etiquette - Default judgment - Notice of intention - Failure to give opposing counsel notice of intention to enter judgment by default - Whether renders default judgment irregular - Nature and form of notice - What constitutes sufficient notice - Whether notice can be implicit, implied or indirect - Sarawak Advocates Ordinance (Practice & Etiquette) Rules 1988, r. 56 - Whether rules of practice and etiquette regulate the procedure of legal proceedings in the High Court
BHR Group Ltd (Uk) v. Witech Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Abdul Aziz Rahim JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 362

PREVENTIVE DETENTION

Detention order - Detention under Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 - Whether amenable to judicial review - Extent of judicial review
Munisvaran Kannan v. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri Malaysia & Anor
(KP Gengadharan Nair JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 375

Detention order - Detention by police pending inquiry - Detention under Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 - Whether powers of police amenable to judicial review
Munisvaran Kannan v. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri Malaysia & Anor
(KP Gengadharan Nair JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 375

Detention order - Detention under Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 - Detention in breach of time limits - Whether detention unlawful - Whether habeas corpus may be issued
Munisvaran Kannan v. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri Malaysia & Anor
(KP Gengadharan Nair JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 375

PROSEDUR SIVIL

Rayuan - Rayuan daripada Jemaah Rayuan Keselamatan Sosial - Sama ada rayuan teratur kerana melibatkan soal fakta - Sama ada rayuan semestinya melibatkan soal undang-undang sahaja - Akta Keselamatan Sosial 1969, ss. 91
Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial lwn. Gow Soo Tan
(Sulaiman Daud H) [2004] 3 CLJ 449

Rayuan - Rayuan daripada Jemaah Rayuan Keselamatan Sosial - Sama ada rayuan teratur kerana melibatkan soalan fakta - Sama ada rayuan semestinya melibatkan soalan undang-undang sahaja - Akta Keselamatan Sosial 1969, ss. 91
Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial lwn. Nor Azian Adnan
(Wan Afrah PK) [2004] 3 CLJ 458

PUBLIC SERVANTS

Disciplinary proceedings - Punishment - Plea in mitigation - Whether there is a separate right in law to make plea in mitigation before imposition of punishment - Employee given opportunity to make representations on ‘liability’ but not in mitigation of penalty - Whether renders decision-making process of disciplinary committee bad - Difference between disciplinary procedures under general order 25 and general order 26 Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) (Chapter D) General Orders 1980
S Veerasingam v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor
(Abdul Kadir Sulaiman JCA, Pajan Singh Gill JCA, Rahmah Hussain JCA) [2004] 3 CLJ 338

Termination of service - Retirement from public service in the public interest - Whether amounts to a dismissal - Whether a punishment - Termination of service in the public interest under general order 44 Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) (Chapter D) General Orders 1980 - Whether distinct and separate from salary-reduction punishment imposed earlier for negligent misconduct - Whether there was double punishment
S Veerasingam v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor
(Abdul Kadir Sulaiman JCA, Pajan Singh Gill JCA, Rahmah Hussain JCA) [2004] 3 CLJ 338

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

Construction of statutes - Literal approach - Legislation affecting fundamental liberties of the individual - Whether literal and strict interpretation called for
Munisvaran Kannan v. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri Malaysia & Anor
(KP Gengadharan Nair JC) [2004] 3 CLJ 375

TAFSIRAN STATUT

Pentafsiran statut - Pendekatan maksud - Perayu-perayu dijatuhi hukuman penjara oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah kerana gagal mematuhi perintah Mahkamah Rayuan Syariah terhadap kesalahan mereka dulu - Sama ada kesalahan dilakukan oleh perayu-perayu ketika masih beragama Islam - Sama ada mereka selayaknya dibawa ke hadapan Mahkamah Syariah - Sama ada isu perayu-perayu berhak keluar dari agama Islam relevan
Kamariah Ali & Yang Lain lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan & Satu Lagi
(Ahmad Fairuz KHN, Mohd Noor Ahmad HMP, Pajan Singh Gill HMP, Rahmah Hussain HMP, Richard Malanjum HMR) [2004] 3 CLJ 409

TORT

Negligence - Duty of care - Whether notional duty of care existed between plaintiffs and defendants - Forseeability of injury to plaintiffs - Relationship of proximity - Chain of causation - Whether just to impose liability of negligence on defendants
Ku Pon & Ors v. Pemandangan Sinar Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Suriyadi Halim Omar J) [2004] 3 CLJ 466

Negligence - Breach of confidence - Whether defendants owed duty of confidence to plaintiffs - Whether there was quality of confidentiality to information received by defendants - Criminal Procedure Code, s. 13
Ku Pon & Ors v. Pemandangan Sinar Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Suriyadi Halim Omar J) [2004] 3 CLJ 466

UNDANG-UNDANG BURUH

Keselamatan sosial - Tuntutan pekerja di bawah Akta Keselamatan Sosial 1969 - Kemalangan berlaku semasa pekerja mengambil bahagian dalam acara sukan majikan - Sama ada kemalangan berlaku dalam masa pekerja menjalankan pekerjaannya - Sama ada kemalangan suatu kes bencana kerja di bawah Akta
Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial lwn. Gow Soo Tan
(Sulaiman Daud H) [2004] 3 CLJ 449

Keselamatan sosial - Tuntutan pekerja di bawah Akta Keselamatan Sosial 1969 - Kemalangan berlaku semasa pekerja menjalani latihan bola jaring mewakili majikan - Sama ada kemalangan berlaku dalam masa pekerja menjalankan pekerjaannya - Sama ada kemalangan suatu kes bencana kerja di bawah Akta
Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial lwn. Nor Azian Adnan
(Wan Afrah PK) [2004] 3 CLJ 458

UNDANG-UNDANG ISLAM

Mahkamah Syariah - Bidangkuasa - Perayu-perayu dijatuhi hukuman penjara oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah kerana gagal mematuhi perintah Mahkamah Rayuan Syariah terhadap kesalahan mereka dulu - Sama ada kesalahan dilakukan oleh perayu-perayu ketika masih beragama Islam - Sama ada mereka selayaknya dibawa ke hadapan Mahkamah Syariah - Sama ada isu perayu-perayu berhak keluar dari agama Islam relevan
Kamariah Ali & Yang Lain lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan & Satu Lagi
(Ahmad Fairuz KHN, Mohd Noor Ahmad HMP, Pajan Singh Gill HMP, Rahmah Hussain HMP, Richard Malanjum HMR) [2004] 3 CLJ 409

UNDANG-UNDANG PERLEMBAGAAN

Kebebasan-kebebasan asasi - Habeas corpus - Pengisytiharan bahawa perayu-perayu telah keluar dari agama Islam - Perayu-perayu dijatuhi hukuman penjara oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah kerana gagal mematuhi perintah Mahkamah Rayuan Syariah terhadap kesalahan mereka dulu - Sama ada kesalahan dilakukan oleh perayu-perayu ketika masih beragama Islam - Sama ada mereka selayaknya dibawa ke hadapan Mahkamah Syariah - Sama ada isu perayu-perayu berhak keluar dari agama Islam relevan
Kamariah Ali & Yang Lain lwn. Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan & Satu Lagi
(Ahmad Fairuz KHN, Mohd Noor Ahmad HMP, Pajan Singh Gill HMP, Rahmah Hussain HMP, Richard Malanjum HMR) [2004] 3 CLJ 409

WORDS & PHRASES

‘Wages’ - Employment Act 1955, s. 2
Neoh Choo Ee & Co Sdn Bhd v. Vasalamany Govindasamy & Anor
(Gopal Sri Ram JCA, Alauddin Mohd Sheriff JCA, Richard Malanjum JCA) [2004] 3 CLJ 321

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