08 Jan 2026

MLJ Alerts: Jan 2026 (Appellate Court)

The Malayan Law Journal Alerts is a complimentary blog series that brings the most recently published case reports powered by Lexis+® Malaysia.

Quote of the Month

"[81] Even though freedom of speech is a constitutional right, it is subject to the boundaries of the laws of defamation and contempt of court. Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution is, with respect, not a licence to slander and to profit from slandering, or to twist apologies tendered in Court to create contents for sensational online videos."

- Gan Techiong JC

Tan Sri Razarudin bin Husain @ Abd Rasid v Wan Muhammad Azri bin Wan Deris [2026] 7 MLJ 518 [HC]

Week 1 Updates

1. Tropika Istimewa Development Sdn Bhd v Wong Hang Fah & Ors [2026] 1 MLJ 228 [CA]

Coram RAVINTHRAN, MOHD NAZLAN AND AHMAD KAMAL JJCA
Catchwords Land Law — Sale and purchase agreement — Acquisition of properties through private lease scheme
Outcome Appeal allowed and cross-appeal dismissed.
Counsel Names

  • Lim Chee Wee (with Marcus Tan Seng Peng and Eunice Kwong Sook Wen) (Ricky Tan & Co) for the appellant (defendant).

  • KL Wong (with Wong Renn Xin) (KL Wong) for the respondent (plaintiff).

2. Professor Dato’ Dr Mohd Fauzi bin Ramlan v Universiti Putra Malaysia & Ors [2026] 1 MLJ 257 [CA]

Coram NANTHA BALAN, MOHD NAZLAN AND CHOO KAH SING JJCA
Catchwords Administrative Law — Disciplinary proceedings — Procedural fairness
Outcome Appeal allowed.
Counsel Names

  • Gunaseelan Tambinathan (with John Skelchy and Shirlena Yogeswaran) (R Kumaradevan) (James Monteiro) for the appellant.

  • Kok Su Ann (with Isabella Cheah Chooi Mun and Nur Liyana Nor Azman) (Zain & Co) for the respondents.

3. Adderina bt Kaharudin & Anor v Lim Yew Jin [2026] 1 MLJ 316 [CA]

Coram SUPANG LIAN, LIM CHONG FONG AND ALWI ABDUL WAHAB JJCA
Catchwords Trusts and Trustees — Express trust — Certainties
Outcome Appeal dismissed; and High Court’s decision affirmed.
Counsel Names

  • S Murthi (with Norzakiah Zainal bt Zainul) (S Murthi & Assoc) for the appellant.

  • Rabinder Singh (with Chu Chin Lee and Chew Tham Soon) (Rabinder Budiman & Assoc) for the respondent.

Week 2 Updates

1. Nirmala a/p Ramasamy v Baramaguru a/l Mariappen [2026] 1 MLJ 334 [CA]

Coram AZIZAH NAWAWI CJ (SABAH DAN SARAWAK), AZIMAH OMAR AND AHMAD KAMAL JJCA
Catchwords Family Law — Divorce — Petition
Outcome Appeal allowed in part (on the rate of maintenance and division of matrimonial assets); JC’s decision as to custody and guardianship over three children maintained; costs of RM20,000 to be paid by respondent to appellant, subject to allocatur.
Counsel Names

  • Bowaneswari a/p Kataraya) (with Nurshakila bt Abu Hasan) (Sahar, Bowanes & Partners) for the appellant.

  • N Saraswathy Devi (Sharon-Shakila Gabriel) for the respondent.

2. Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia & Anor v Vertex Blue Consulting Sdn Bhd [2026] 1 MLJ 355 [FC]

Coram ABU BAKAR JAIS PCA, HASNAH HASHIM CJ (MALAYA) AND VAZEER ALAM FCJ
Catchwords Civil Procedure — Unless orders — Failure to comply
Outcome Appeal allowed; judgment and order of High Court and Court of Appeal set aside; matter remitted to High Court for trial.
Counsel Names

  • Nur Irmawatie Daud (with Saravanan Kuppusamy) (Senior Federal Counsel, Attorney General’s Chambers) for the appellant.

  • Ariff bin Rozhan (with Christopher Arun a/l Francis, Sylvie Tan and Nurul Farhani bt Kamarudin (Ariff Rozhan & Co) for the respondent.

3. MA Joseph Capital Sdn Bhd v Pannirselvam a/l Mannar & Ors and other appeals [2026] 1 MLJ 376 [CA]

Coram MOHD NAZLAN, FAIZAH JAMALUDIN AND AHMAD FAIRUZ JJCA
Catchwords Contract — Illegality — Contravention of law
Outcome Appeals allowed; High Court's decision set aside.
Counsel Names

  • Harihanan Tara Singh (with Tan Eng Seng) (TS Hariharan & Partners) in Appeal Nos B-02(NCVC)(W)-994–06 of 2024, B-02(NCVC)(W)-995–06 of 2024 and B-02(NCvC)(W)-1000–06 of 2024 for the appellant.

  • R Thayalan (with Ahmad Shahrizal bin Abdul Aziz, Chong Lip Yi and Nathaniel Low) (Ranjit Ooi & Robert Low)) (Mohd Faiz bin Abd Rahim (Rastam Singa & Co)) in Appeal Nos B-02(NCVC)(W)-994–06 of 2024, B-02(NCVC)(W)-995–06 of 2024 and B-02(NCvC)(W)-1000–06 of 2024 for the first and second respondent.

  • Mohd Faiz bin Abd Rahim (Rastam Singa & Co) in Appeal No B-02(NCvC)(W)-994–06 of 2024 for the third respondent.

  • Ringo Low Kim Leng (with Wan Nurfarah Izzah bt Wan Arifin) (Ringo Low & Assoc) in Appeal No B-02(NCvC)(W)-995–06 of 2024 for the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth respondents.

  • Mohd Faiz bin Abd Rahim (Rastam Singa & Co) in Appeal No B-02(NCvC)(W)-995–06 of 2024 for the seventh and ninth respondents.

  • Ringo Low Kim Leng (with Wan Nurfarah Izzah bt Wan Arifin) (Ringo Low & Assoc) in Appeal No B-02(NCvC)(W)-1000–06 of 2024 for the third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents.

4. Pegawai Penyiasat Jenayah Korporat/Kewangan Insp Jeinthan Annanthakrishnan & Anor v Ananthagopi a/l Alaguganesan [2026] 1 MLJ 411 [CA]

Coram SUPANG LIAN, LIM CHONG FONG AND ALWI ABDUL WAHAB JJCA
Catchwords Tort — False imprisonment — Unlawful arrest and detention by police
Outcome Appeal unanimously dismissed; High Court’s decision affirmed.
Counsel Names

  • Amalina bt Zainal Mokhtar (with Mohamad Shafiq bin Mohd Sazalli and Intan Noor Nazimah Nazi) (Negeri Sembilan State Advisor's Office) for the appellants.

  • Karthigesan a/l Shanmugam (with Ar Thamayanthy a/p P Rajasekaran and Muniandy a/l Vestanathan) (Karthig Shan) for the respondent.

5. Desa Tiasa Sdn Bhd v CME Group Bhd & Anor [2026] 1 MLJ 431 [CA]

Coram AZIZAH NAWAWI, AZIZUL AZMI ADNAN AND CHOO KAH SING JJCA
Catchwords Companies and Corporations — Judicial management — Who may appear during judicial management proceedings
Outcome Appeal allowed; order of High Court set aside; proposed intervener directed to pay costs of RM10,000 to appellant and another RM10,000 to respondent, subject to allocatur.
Counsel Names

  • Malik Imtiaz Sarwar (with Jamie Wong, Kelvesh Deshenraj and Wong Ming Yen) (Jamie Wong) for the appellant.

  • S Raven (with Janice Tay) (S Ravenesan) for the first respondent.

  • Michele Kaur (with Tee Yee Man) (Sun & Michele) for the second respondent.

Week 3 Updates

1. Girish Chandra a/l Hemraj Shastri v Jyoti Sharma [2026] 1 MLJ 439 [CA]

Coram NANTHA BALAN, AZHAHARI RAMLI AND AHMAD KAMAL JJCA
Catchwords Family Law — Divorce — Division of matrimonial assets
Outcome High Court’s decision set aside with regard to the Setapak shoplot; decision with regards to the Titiwangsa house affirmed.
Counsel Names

  • Rajan Navaratnam (with Sheena Stephanie Sebastian and Muhammad Muzammil bin Abdul Halim) (Shahrizat Rashid & Lee) for the appellant.

  • Rajinder Kaur a/p Sukhdev Singh (S Rajinder & Co) for the respondent.

2. Golden Wheel Credit Sdn Bhd v Dato’ Siah Teong Din [2026] 1 MLJ 468 [CA]

Coram RAVINTHRAN, AZHAHARI RAMLI AND FAIZAH JAMALUDIN JJCA
Catchwords Contract — Agreement — Moneylending agreements
Outcome Appeal allowed.
Counsel Names

  • Alfred Lai Choong Wui (with Toh Mei Swan and Ho Weng Sze) (Alfred Lai & Partners) for the appellant.

  • Wai Chong Khuan (with Derek Chin Tze Qi) (Low & Partners) for the respondent.

3. Hubline Bhd v Intan Wazlin bt Ab Wahab & Ors and another appeal [2026] 1 MLJ 489 [CA]

Coram NANTHA BALAN, LIM CHONG FONG AND NOORIN BADARUDDIN JJCA
Catchwords Labour Law — Industrial Court — Substitution and joinder of parties
Outcome Appeals allowed.
Counsel Names

  • Ryan Ng Chin Wern (with Khong Mei-Yan and Nathaniel Low Khern Ming) (Robert Low & Ooi) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-128–03 of 2021 for the appellant.

  • Alex De Silva (with Jessica Chew Harn Hwei) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-142–03 of 2021 for the appellant.

  • Muhendaran Suppiah (with Chong Wan Loo) (Muhendaran Sri) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-128–03 of 2021 for the second, third, sixth, eighth, tenth, 11th, 12th, 13rd, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, and 35th respondents.

  • (Malaysian Department of Insolvency) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-128–03 of 2021 for the 37th and 38th respondents.

  • Alex De Silva (with Jessica Chew Harn Hwei) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-128–03 of 2021 for the 39th respondent.

  • Muhendaran Suppiah (with Chong Wan Loo) (Muhendaran Sri) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-142–03 of 2021 for the second, third, sixth, eighth, tenth, 11th, 12th, 13rd, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, and 35th respondents.

  • (Jabatan Insolvensi Malaysia) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-142–03 of 2021 for the 37th and 38th respondents.

  • Ryan Ng Chin Wern (with Khong Mei-Yan and Nathaniel Low Khern Ming) (Robert Low & Ooi) in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-142–03 of 2021 for the 39th respondent.

  • Not represented in Civil Appeal No W-01(A)-142–03 of 2021 for the first, fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth, 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 27th, 29th, 30th, 33rd and 36th respondents.

4. Pendakwa Raya lwn Phrueksa Taemchim dan lain-lain rayuan [2026] 1 MLJ 527 [FC]

Coram WAN AHMAD FARID KETUA HAKIM NEGARA, ABU BAKAR JAIS PMR, HASNAH HASHIM HAKIM BESAR (MALAYA), AZIZAH NAWAWI HAKIM BESAR (SABAH DAN SARAWAK) DAN CHE MOHD RUZIMA HMR
Catchwords Prosedur Jenayah — Bidang kuasa — Bidang kuasa Mahkamah Persekutuan untuk mengkaji semula hukuman mati
Outcome Keputusan 27 Ogos 2024 diketepikan dengan membatalkan semua perintah yang dibuat oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan susulan keputusan 27 Ogos 2024 tersebut.
Counsel Names

  • Saiful Edris bin Zainuddin (Tetralina bt Ahmed Fauzi, Solehah Noratikah bt Ismail dan Mohamad Arif Aizuddin bin Masrom bersamanya) (Timbalan Pendakwa Raya, Jabatan Peguam Negara) dalam Rayuan Jenayah No 05(RJ)-7–11 Tahun 2024(W), 05(RJ)-9–11 Tahun 2024(P) dan 05(RJ)-11–12 Tahun 2024(P) bagi pihak perayu.

  • Simon Murali (Simon Murali & Co) dalam Rayuan Jenayah No 05(RJ)-7–11 Tahun 2024(W) bagi pihak responden.

  • Abdul Rashid bin Ismail (Khaizan Sharizad bt Ab Razak, Siti Nurani bt Zahidi dan Jacqueline Hannah Albert bersamanya) (Rashid Zulkifli) dalam Rayuan Jenayah No 05(RJ)-9–11 Tahun 2024(P) bagi pihak responden.

  • N Sivananthan (Wan Muhamad Yusuf bin Wan Hussin bersamanya) (Sivananthan) dalam Rayuan Jenayah No 05(RJ)-11–12 Tahun 2024(P) bagi pihak responden.

Week 4 Updates

1. Nur Fuziatun bt Mohd Fadzli (suing through his father and litigation representative, Mohd Fadzli bin Jamil) v Gombak Medical Centre Sdn Bhd & Ors [2026] 1 MLJ 554 [CA]

Coram AZIZAH NAWAWI, AZIZUL AZMI ADNAN AND FAIZAH JAMALUDIN JJCA
Catchwords Tort — Negligence — Medical negligence
Outcome Plaintiff’s appeal against first and second defendants allowed; plaintiff’s appeal against third defendant dismissed.
Counsel Names

  • Manmohan S Dhillon (with Aaika Zulaikha Mohd Yusop and Abigail Sarah Kumar) (PS Ranjan & Co) for the appellant.

  • Harjinder Singh Sandhu (with Izzah Shakirah Mohd Sukor) (Akberdin & Co) for the first respondent.

  • Chrishanthini AR Sebastiampillai (with Narandra Kangatharan) (S Chrishanthini & Co) for the second respondent.

  • Riza Makhzan Arifin (Sharifah & Assoc) for the third respondent.

2. IEM SA v Flowbird Malaysia Sdn Bhd and another appeal [2026] 1 MLJ 582 [CA]

Coram SUPANG LIAN, LIM CHONG FONG AND ALWI ABDUL WAHAB JJCA
Catchwords Tort — Conspiracy to injure — Misuse of confidential information
Outcome Both appeals allowed in part by varying award of damages to USD51,610; the remainder of High Court’s judgment affirmed; parties were ordered to bear their respective costs for both appeals.
Counsel Names

  • Lee Shih (with Lee Suan Cui) (Lim Chee Wee Partnership) in Civil Appeal No W-02(NCVC)(W)-740–05 of 2024 for the appellant.

  • Nur Afiqah bt Mohd Ashriee (with Siti Nur Athirazatti Rohizad and Nur Sabreena Jazzmyn Melody bt Mohd Hassan Ali Abdullah) (Saiful, Roger & Co) in Civil Appeal No W-02(NCVC)(W)-741–05 of 2024 for the appellant.

  • K Shanti Mogan (with Yiew De Quan) (Shearn Delamore & Co) in Civil Appeal Nos W-02(NCVC)(W)-740–05 of 2024 and W-02(NCVC)(W)-741–05 of 2024) for the respondent.

3. Su’ot Tebari @ Sali Tebari (suing on behalf of himself and three of his siblings) v Superintendent of Land and Survey, Limbang Division & Ors and other appeals [2026] 1 MLJ 612 [CA]

Coram RAVINTHRAN, AZIMAH OMAR AND NOORIN BADARUDDIN JJCA
Catchwords Land Law — Customary land — Native customary rights
Outcome Appeal 654 dismissed with no order as to costs; Appeal 671 allowed with costs of RM30,000 here and below; Appeal 672 allowed with costs of RM30,000 here and below.
Counsel Names

  • Joshua Parir Baru (with Clarice Chan) (Baru Bian) in Civil Appeal No Q-01(NCVC)(W)-654–11 of 2021 for the appellant.

  • Mohd Adzrul bin Adzlan (with Adzharye bin Johari) (Sarawak Attorney General’s Chambers) in Civil Appeal No Q-01(NCVC)(W)671–11 of 2021 for the appellants.

  • Sim *** Chuang (with Rachel Ho) (Reddi & Co) in Civil Appeal No Q-01(NCVC)(W)-672–11 of 2021 for the appellant.

  • Mohd Adzrul bin Adzlan (with Adzharye bin Johari) (Sarawak Attorney General’s Chambers) in Civil Appeal No Q-01(NCVC)(W)-654-11 of 2021 for the first and second respondents.

  • Sim *** Chuang (with Rachel Ho) (Reddi & Co) in Civil Appeal No Q-01(NCVC)(W)-654–11 of 2021 for the third respondent.

  • Joshua Parir Baru (with Clarice Chan) (Baru Bian) in Civil Appeal Nos Q-01(NCVC)(W)-671–11 of 2021 and Q-01(NCVC)(W)-672–11 of 2021 for the respondent.

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