LEGAL METHOD - DOCTRINE OF STARE DECISIS IN MALAYSIA COURTS
GROUP 3 (SECTION 2)
1985-1994 1994-NOW
PRE 1985
PRIVY COUNCIL
SUPREME COURT
FEDERAL COURT
FEDERAL COURT
HIGH COURT HIGH COURT (MALAYA)
(BORNEO)
COURT OF APPEAL
HIGH COURT HIGH COURT (MALAYA)
(BORNEO)
HIGH COURT
HIGH COURT
(MALAYA) (MALAYA)
(SABAH AND
SARAWAK)
“Stare de!"!"# $!tera$$% tra&"$ate" a" t' "ta&d % “de!de atter" 'r “t' "ta&d % de!"!'&" a&d &'t t' d!"t*r "ett$ed atter"#+ U&der t,e d'tr!&e '- "tare de!"!". t,e de!"!'& '- ,!/,er '*rt 0!t,!& t,e "ae 1r'2!&!a$ 3*r!"d!t!'& at" a" !&d!&/ a*t,'r!t% '& a $'0er '*rt 0!t,!& t,e "ae 3*r!"d!t!'&+ T,e de!"!'& '- a '*rt '- a&'t,er 3*r!"d!t!'& '&$% at" a" 1er"*a"!2e a*t,'r!t%+ T,e de/ree '- 1er"*a"!2e&e"" !" de1e&de&t *1'& 2ar!'*" -at'r". !&$*d!&/ -!r"t t,e &at*re '- t,e 't,er 3*r!"d!t!'&+ Se'&d. t,e de/ree '- 1er"*a"!2e&e"" !" de1e&de&t *1'& t,e $e2e$ '- '*rt. 0,!, de!ded de!ded t,e 1reed 1reede&t e&t a"e !& t,e 't,er 't,er 3*r!"d 3*r!"d!t !t!'& !'&++ Ot,er Ot,er -at'r" -at'r" !&$*d !&$*dee t,e date date '- 1reede&t a"e '& t,e a""*1t!'& t,at t,e 're ree&t t,e a"e. t,e 're re$!a$e !t 0!$$ e a"
1
a*t,'r!t% -'r a /!2e& 1r'1'"!t!'& a&d '& "'e 'a"!'&". t,e 3*d/e4" re1*tat!'& a% a--et t,e de/ree '- 1er"*a"!2e&e"" '- t,e a*t,'r!t%+ Ba"ed '& d!a/ra a'2e. Ma$a%"!a 0e&t t,r'*/, t,ree d!--ere&t 3*d!!a$ "%"te" "tart!&/ 0!t, 1re 5678. -'$$'0ed % 5669 *&t!$ 0,at 0e ,a2e &'0+ I& t,e -!r"t era. Pr!2% C'*&!$4" de!"!'&" are !&d!&/ '& a$$ '*rt" !& Ma$a%"!a+ T,e !&-er!'r '*rt" ",'*$d -'$$'0 0,at ,a" ee& de!ded !& t,e Pr!2% C'*&!$+ De!"!'&" '- Federa$ C'*rt !&d t,e $'0er '*rt" !& 't, !2!$ a&d r!!&a$ a"e"+ T,e H!/, C'*rt 0a" -*rt,er d!2!ded !&t' t0'. 0,!, are Ma$a%a H!/, C'*rt a&d B'r&e' H!/, C'*rt+ De!"!'&" '- t,e Ma$a%a H!/, C'*rt are !&d!&/ '& a$$ t,e S*'rd!&ate C'*rt" !& t,e Pe&!&"*$ar Ma$a%"!a 0,!$e de!"!'&" !& B'r&e' H!/, C'*rt are !&d!&/ '& a$$ t,e S*'rd!&ate C'*rt" !& Saa, a&d Sara0a:+ M'2!&/ t' t,e "e'&d era 0,ere 0e ,a2e t,e S*1ree C'*rt a" t,e ,!/,e"t '*rt+ T,e de!"!'&" '- t,e S*1ree C'*rt are !&d!&/ '& a$$ t,'"e '*rt" e$'0 !t+ T,!" !" -'$$'0ed % t,e H!/, C'*rt. 0,!, !" d!2!ded. !&t' t0'; Ma$a%a a&d B'r&e'+ T,e H!/, C'*rt a& re2!"e a "*'rd!&ate '*rt4" de!"!'& !& r!!&a$ a&d !2!$ a"e" 0,!$e t,e S*1ree C'*rt 0!$$ re2!e0 a"e" re"er2ed % t,e H!/, C'*rt. H'0e2er. !& 5669. a ,a&/e t'': 1$ae !& 3*d!!ar% 0,e& 1ar$!ae&t ae&ded Federa$ C'&"t!t*t!'&+ T,e Federa$ C'*rt '- Ma$a %"!a eae t,e ,!/,e"t 3*d!!a$ a*t,'r!t% a&d t,e -!&a$ '*rt '- a11ea$ !& Ma$a%"!a a:!&/ t,e de!"!'&" '- t,e Federa$ C'*rt !&d *1'& a$$ t,e $'0er '*rt+ I& add!t!'&. t,e Federa$ C'*rt ,ear" a11ea$" '- de!"!'&" 't, !2!$ a&d r!!&a$ -r' t,e C'*rt '- A11ea$+ T,e C'*rt '- A11ea$ !" t,e& -'$$'0ed % t,e H!/, C'*rt+ W!t,!& t,e"e t,ree era". t,e '*rt" !& Ma$a%"!a ,a2e /'&e t,r'*/, re'r/a&!
2
TERMINOLOGY
Stare decisis:
A !d % t,e de!"!'&". a Lat!& 1,ra"e" ea&!&/ t' "ta&d % de!ded a"e"> t' *1,'$d 1reede&t"> t' a!&ta!& -'rer ad3*d!at!'&"+ T' "ta&d % t,!&/" de!ded> t' a!de % 1reede&t" 0,ere t,e "ae 1'!&t '- $a0 ,a" ee& "ett$ed % de!"!'&. !t -'r" a 1reede&t 0,!, !" &'t a-ter0ard" t' e de1arted -r'+ Pari Material >
Ha2!&/ t,e "ae atter. te?t 'r '& t,e "ae "*3et; $a0" pari material *"t e '&"tr*ed 0!t, re-ere&e t' ea, 't,er+ Per In!"#!
%$A Lat!& 0'rd 0,!, ea&" t,r'*/, $a: '- are+ A de!"!'& '- a '*rt !" ade per incurium !- !t -a!$" t' a11$% a re$e2a&t "tat*t'r% 1r'2!"!'& 'r !/&'re" a !&d!&/ 1reede&t+ Res Judicata;
A 3*d!!a$$% de!ded atter+ T,e r*$e t,at !- a d!"1*te *" 3*d/ed % a '*rt '- '1ete&t 3*r!"d!t!'&. t,e 3*d/ee&t '- t,e '*rt !" -!&a$ a&d '&$*"!2e a" t,e r!/,t a&d d*t!e" '- t,e 1art!e" !&2'$2ed+ Res Judicata '&"t!t*te" a& a"'$*te t' a "*"e@*e&t "*!t -'r t,e "ae a*"e '- at!'&+ T,e r*$e a11$!e" '&$% 0,e& t,e !""*e" "*ed -'r a a*"e '- at!'&. 1er"'&. a&d 1art!e" t' t,e at!'& are t,e "ae a" !& t,e 'r!/!&a$ at!'&+ Re" *d!ata a11$!e" % '1erat!'& '- $a0. rat,er t,a& d!"ret!'& '- t,e '*rt+
3
In Curia;
I& R'a& $a0. curia4 0a" t,e a""e$% 1$ae '- *r!ae. a&!e&t d!2!"!'&" '- t,e R'a& 1e'1$e "a!d t' ,a2e ee& ade % R'*$*" 5+ It a$"' eae t,e eet!&/ 1$ae '- t,e R'a& Se&ate a" 0e$$ a" a &*er '- t,e 't,er 'r1'rat!'&" a&d *&der t,e E1!re '- Se&ate H'*"e '- a 1r'2!&e+ D*r!&/ t,e M!dd$e A/e" t,e ter re-erred t' t,e "'2ere!/&4" ret!&*e 'r ,'*"e,'$d a&d t' 3*d!!a$ tr!*&a$" 0!t,!& t,e "'2ere!/&4" 1a$ae -'r e?a1$e. t,e C*r!a Re/!". t,e ter t,e& ae t' e *"ed 're 0!de$% !& re$at!'& t' '*rt" !& /e&era$+ Courts of coordinated jurisdiction:
C''rd!&ate 3*r!"d!t!'& ea&" 're t,a& '&e '*rt ,a" t,e a*t,'r!t% t' ,ear a a"e a&d a:e a deter!&at!'& '& t,e '*t'e '- t,e a"e+ C''rd!&ate 3*r!"d!t!'& e?!"t" !& '*rt "%"te" 0,ere t,ere are *$t!1$e '*rt"+
1 Founder of Rome 2 The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history: Antiquity, Medieval period, and Modern period !
OPERATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF STARE DECISIS 3 4 5
T,e d'tr!&e '- "tare de!"!". t,ere-'re. ,a" a t0'=0a% '1erat!'&+ F!r"t$%. t,e 2ert!a$ '1erat!'& '- t,e d'tr!&e !". !& t,e'r%. "tra!/,t-'r0ard+ A '*rt !" '*&d % t,e 1r!'r de!"!'& '- a$$ '*rt" ,!/,er t,at !t"e$- !& t,e "ae ,!erar,%+ I& Ma$a%"!a. t,e de!"!'&" '- t,e Federa$ C'*rt. at!&/ a" t,e ,!/,e"t tr!*&a$ C'*rt '- A11ea$. !&d" *1'& a$$ $'0er '*rt+ Re2er"e$%. t,e "*'rd!&ate '*rt"4 de!"!'&" are &'t !&d!&/ *1'& t,e Federa$ C'*rt+ Se'&d$%. t,e ,'r!<'&ta$ '1erat!'& '- "tare de!"!" 0,!, !& Ma$a%"!a. !t !" *, 're '1$!ated t' !t" 2ert!a$ '1erat!'&+ T,!" re@*!re" e?a!&at!'& '- t,e t,ree 1,a"e". 0,!, t,e ,!erar,!a$ "tr*t*re '- t,e '*rt" ,ad /'&e t,r'*/,+ T,e de!"!'&" '- t,e Pr!2% C'*&!$. e!&/ t,e a1e? '*rt !& t,e ,!erar,!a$ "tr*t*re '- t,e '*rt" !& Ma$a%"!a. 0'*$d !&d a$$ '*rt" $'0er !& t,e ,!erar,%+ H'0e2er. t,!" !" $!!ted t' Pr!2% C'*&!$ de!"!'&" a& a11ea$ -r' Ma$a%"!a !& t,e a"e '- Wong See Leng v Saraswathy !al " a&d -r' 't,er ''& $a0 3*r!"d!t!'&" 0,ere t,e $a0 !& 1ar! ater!a$
0!t, Ma$a%"!a& $a0+ T,'1"'& LP ade t,e 1r!&!1$e $ear !& t,e a"e '- #halid Panjang $ %rs v Pu&lic Prosecutor ' + I& t,e a"e '- (irector )eneral of Inland Revenue v #uli! Ru&&er Plantation Ltd . t,e Pr!2% C'*&!$ !" &'t '*&d % !t" '0& de!"!'&"+
3 Arfah "am#ah Wan, and Ramy $ulan An Introduction to the Malaysian Legal System %hah Alam, %elangor &arul 'hsan: Fa(ar $a)ti, 2**3 ! Wu, Min Aun The Malaysian Legal System 3rd ed %elangor &arul 'hsan: +ongman, 2** %harifah %uhana Ahmad Malaysian Legal System -uala +umpur: Malayan +a. /ournal, 1000 10!2* M+/ 1!1 4 10! 1 M+/ 4
T,e -edera$ '*rt4" 1'"!t!'& !& !2!$ a"e" 0'*$d e a&a$'/'*" t' t,at '- t,e C'*rt '- A11ea$ !& E&/$a&d+ T,*". de!"!'&" '- t,e Federa$ C'*rt 0'*$d !&d a$$ !&-er!'r '*rt". a&d t,e Federa$ C'*rt 0'*$d e '*&d % !t" '0& de!"!'& '- t,e Pr!2% C'*&!$+ T,e Federa$ C'*rt 0'*$d e '*&d % !t" '0& de!"!'&" '- !t" 1redee""'r '*rt" a&d '*rt" '- ''rd!&ate 3*r!"d!t!'&+ I& Central Securities *+oldings, -hd v +aron &in Moha!ed .aid /. t,e Federa$ C'*rt ,e$d t,at !t 0a" '*&d t' -'$$'0 !t" '0& 1re2!'*" de!"!'&> ,'0e2er. t,ere are t0' e?e1t!'&" !& 0oung v -ristol ero1lane Co Ltd 2+ I& t,!" a"e. t,e 3*d/e" are '*&d t' -'$$'0 t,e"e t0' ear$!er Federa$ C'*rt de!"!'&. *&$e"" t,e 3*d/e" e$!e2e t,at t,e% ,a2e ee& 0r'&/$% de!ded a&d ere$% 1er !&*r!*+ Mea&0,!$e. !& r!!&a$ a"e". t,e Federa$ C'*rt 0'*$d e '*&d % t,e de!"!'& '- Pr!2% C'*&!$. 0,!$e !t" de!"!'&" !& r!!&a$ a"e" 0'*$d !&d a$$ !&-er!'r '*rt"+ T,e Federa$ C'*rt 0a" a$"' '*&d % t,e de!"!'&" '- '*rt" '- '= 'rd!&ate 3*r!"d!t!'&. a&d !t" 1redee""'r '*rt+ I& t,e a"e '- %ie +ee #oi v Pu&lic Prosecutor 34. 0e a& "ee t,at Federa$ C'*rt 0a" &'t '*&d % !t" '0& 1re2!'*" de!"!'&+
De!"!'&" '- t,e H!/, C'*rt 0'*$d !&d a$$ "*'rd!&ate '*rt"+ I& Ma$a%"!a. H!/, C'*rt 3*d/e" ,a2e ated '& t,e a""*1t!'& t,at H!/, C'*rt 3*d/e 0,et,er e?er!"!&/ a11e$$ate r 'r!/!&a$ 3*r!"d!t!'& !" &'t '*&d % a de!"!'& ade % a&'t,er+ F'r e?a1$e. !& 5g +oi Cheu $ nor v Pu&lic Prosecutor 33+ L!:e0!"e. !& Joginder Singh v Pu&lic Prosecutor 36 7 t,e
H!/, C'*rt ,e$d !t 0a" &'t '*&d t' -'$$'0 a de!"!'& '- t,e H!/, C'*rt+ I& add!t!'&. t,e 1rat!e '- t,e H!/, C'*rt a" d!"*""ed rea!&" *&,a&/ed *&t!$ t'da%+ 5 105*1 M+/ 3*! 0 610!!7 -$ 41! 1* 102 M+/ 153 11 1002 M+/ 2* 12 105! 1 M+/ 3
In Lorraine 8s!e %s!an v ttorney )eneral 39. t,e S*1ree C'*rt a11eared t' e '-
'1!&!'& t,at !t '*/,t t' e '*&d % !t" '0& 1re2!'*" de!"!'&. *&$e"" !t 0a" ",'0& t,at "*, de!"!'& 0a" 0r'&/$% de!ded+ S!&e S*1ree C'*rt a&d Pr!2% C'*&!$ are !& "!!$ar $e2e$. t,e S*1ree C'*rt a% -'$$'0 t,e de!"!'& '- Pr!2% C'*&!$ a&d at &'t t' d' "' !- t,e% -a$$ a &e0 de!"!'& &eed t' e ade (1er"*a"!2e)+ Mea&0,!$e. S*1ree C'*rt !" $ear$% &'t !&d!&/ 0!t, t,e Federa$ C'*rt "!&e t,e% are at d!--ere&t $e2e$ at t,e a1e?+ M're'2er. Federa$ C'*rt !" $'0er t,a& S*1ree C'*rt 0,!, !" &'t !&d!&/+ In )overn!ent of Malaysia $ 8M v Li! #it Siang 3. a '1$e? a"e t,at r'*/,t -'rt, a&
e@*a$$% '1$e? 3*d/ee&t ea*"e t,e 1r!&!1$e '- re" 3*d!ata 0a" "' !&tert0!&ed. a&d '&-*"ed. 0!t, t,e 1r!&!1$e '- "tare de!"!"+ O& t,e !""*e '- $'*" "ta&d! 0a" &'t a de-!&!t!2e 'r '&$*"!2e '&e. a&d t,at t,ere 0a" &'t,!&/ !& t,e ear$!er 'ra$ 3*d/ee&t 0,!, !&,!!ted t,e '*rt -r' '&"!der!&/ t,e !""*e '- $'*" "ta&d! a/a!&+ De!"!'&" '- t,e Federa$ C'*rt 0'*$d &'0 e !&d!&/ *1'& a$ '*rt" $'0er !& t,e ,!erar,%+ I& +arris Solid State *M, Sdn -hd v -runo )entil 3<. '*&"e$ tr!ed t' ar/*e e-'re t,e C'*rt '- A11ea$ t,at t,e 2!e0 e?1re""ed % t,e a3'r!t% '- t,e Federa $ C'*rt !& t,e a"e '- R Ra!a Chandran v Industrial Court of Malaysia $ nor 3" 0a" 0r'&/ a&d '*/,t &'t t' e -'$$'0ed+
T,e C'*rt '- A11ea$ e?1re""ed !t" d!"a/reee&t a&d $ear$% "tated; “….This court is bound to follow and apply the law as stated by the majority in Rama Chandran, even if it suffers from any infirmity. It is a decision of the ape court and constitutes bindin! precedent.#
13 105 2 M+/ 255 1! 1055 2 M+/ 12 1 100 ! 8+/ 4!4 68A7, 3 2**2 ! 8+/ 1* 6F87 1 1004 1 M+/ ! 4
M're'2er. !& !2!$ atter. t,e Federa$ C'*rt d'e" &'t re/ard !t"e$- '*&d % t,e de!"!'&" '- t,e S*1ree C'*rt+ T,!" a& e "ee& !& Malaysian 5ational Insurance Sdn -hd v Li! =io> 3' + Be"!de". in ?ood Cor1oration of India v ntcli@o Shi11ing Cor1oration 3/. t,ere are
t0' 1rere@*!"!te". t,e 3*d/e ",'*$d &'t ear: '& "*, a re2!e0 *&$e"" t,e% -ee$ -ree+ I- &ee""ar%. t' de1art -r' t,e rea"'&!&/ a&d t,e de!"!'& a&d t,e% are "at!"-!ed t,at !t 0'*$d e '- re$e2a&e t' t,e re"'$*t!'& '- t,e d!"1*te !& t,e a"e e-'re t,e t,at ,a2!&/ ee& "at!"-!ed !& t,e !&"ta&t a"e+ I& '&tra"t. !& r!!&a$ atter". t,e Federa$ C'*rt ,'$d" !t"e$- '*&d % de!"!'&" '- t,e S*1ree C'*rt 0,!, !" !& t,e a"e '- =an -oon #eau v Pu&lic Prosecutor 32+
T,e 1re"e&t Federa$ C'*rt !" &'t '*&d % !t" '0& 1re2!'*" de!"!'&" '& (ali1 -hagwan Singh64. t,e Federa$ C'*rt e?1re""ed !t" 2!e0 t,at a$t,'*/, t,e Prat!e Statee&t (*d!!a$
Preede&t) 56 !""*ed % t,e H'*"e '- L'rd" 0a" &'t !&d!&/ '& t,e Federa$ C'*rt. !t ,ad. !& 1rat!e ee& -'$$'0ed % t,e Federa$ C'*rt a&d !t" -'rer*&&er. t,e S*1ree C'*rt+ T,e 1r!&!1$e !t 0'*$d a11ear !" t,at t,e 1'0er t' de1art ",'*$d e e?er!"ed "1ar!&/$%+ T,e 1'0er t' de1art 0'*$d e !&d!ated 0,e& a 1re2!'*" de!"!'& "'*/,t t' e '2err*$ed 0a" 0r'&/. *&erta!&. *&3*"t '*t'ded 'r '"'$ete !& 'der& '&d!t!'&+ W!t, re/ard t' t,e C'*rt '- A11ea$. !t d'e" &'t ,a2e a&% 1redee""'r+ It 0a" -!r"t e"ta$!",ed !& t,!" 1re"e&t era+ I& #esultanan Pahang v Sathas> Realty Sdn -hd 63. C'*rt '- A11ea$ 0a"
14 1004 2 M+/ 1 15 10552 All 'R 23 10 1004 2 M+/ 1 2* 1005 1 M+/ 11! 21 1004 2 M+/ 4*1 5
*r/ed % '*&!$ -'r t,e a11e$$a&t t' re3et !t" ear$!er de!"!'& !& Syari>at #enderaan Melayu #elantan Sdn -hd v =rans1ort Wor>er nion 66 0,!,. !& t,e '*&"e$4" '1!&!'& ,ad
0r'&/-*$$% re-*"e t' -'$$'0 t,e Pr!2% C'*&!$ de!"!'& !& South 8ast sia ?ire -ric>s Sdn -hd v 5on Metalic Mineral Products Manufacturers 8!1loyees nion $ %rs 69+ Ad*$
Ma$!: A,ad CA re3eted t,at !&2!tat!'& '& t,e /r'*&d a'&/ 't,er" t,at #0e are '*&d % '*r '0& de!"!'&#. @*'t!&/ a" a*t,'r!t% t,e d!t* % G'1a$ Sr! Ra CA !& t,e Federa$ C'*rt !& #u!1ulan Perangsang Selangor -erhad v .aid &in +j Mohd 5or 6 0,ere!& t,e $ear&ed 3*d/e ,a2!&/ "tated t,at t,e Federa$ C'*rt !" '*&d % !t" '0& de!"!'&. added “-'r $!:e rea"'&. t,e C'*rt '- A11ea$ !" &'t '*&d % t,e de!"!'& '- 1re2!'*" Federa$ C'*rt *t !t !" '*&d % t,e 1re"e&t Federa$ '*rt+
22 610072 M+/ 314 23 1051 A8 33 2! 1004 1 M+/ 450 0
