08 Jan 2026

MLJ Alerts: Jan 2026 (High 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. PT TRI Perkasa Express v Green Global Transport Solutions Sdn Bhd [2026] 7 MLJ 209 [HC]

Coram	ONG CHEE KWAN J
Catchwords	Admiralty and Shipping — Shipping container — Ownership of
Outcome	Plaintiff’s claim allowed with costs of RM50,000 subject to allocatur; defendant’s counterclaim dismissed.
Counsel Names	Ng Sai Yeang (with Noor Azanida bt Alladin and Maninder Pal Singh a/l Pritipal Singh (Pupil in Chambers)) (Raja, Darryl & Loh) for the plaintiff. Arun Kasi (with Linda James) (Arun Kasi & Co) for the defendant.

2. Ng Chok Ling v Abdul Gaffar Khan bin Amirullah [2026] 7 MLJ 234 [HC]

Coram	HAZIZAH KASSIM JC
Catchwords	Local Government — Buildings — Building without approval
Outcome	Defendant to pay the plaintiff RM50,000 as general damages for trespassing onto the plaintiff’s property; to repair the damaged awning on the plaintiff’s property; and all other claims dismissed.
Counsel Names	Caryn Shua (Richard Tee & Chin) for the plaintiff. Adnan Seman @ Abdullah (Adnan Sharida & Assoc) for the defendant.

3. Mohanna a/l Rengasamy (sued as a partner of The Law Office of Mohanna & Co) & Anor v Krishna Kumar a/l Kalianan [2026] 7 MLJ 262 [HC]

Coram	JAMHIRAH ALI J
Catchwords	Tort — Negligence — Professional negligence
Outcome	Appeal dismissed with costs of RM15,000; decision of the sessions court was upheld.
Counsel Names	Taneswaran a/l Palaraman (with S Surianath (Pupil in Chambers)) (Tanes, Khoo & Paulraj) for the appellants. V Muniandy (with Fiona Aurelia Culas) (Andy & Co) for the respondent.

Week 2 Updates

1. Dato’ Pahlawan Ramli bin Yusuff v Tetuan Vin Law & Co (suing as a firm) [2026] 7 MLJ 288 [HC]

Coram	ALIZA SULAIMAN J
Catchwords	Legal Profession — Bill of costs — Taxation
Outcome	Appellant’s appeal dismissed with costs of RM10,000 to be paid by appellant to respondent, subject to allocatur.
Counsel Names	Kamalanathan Ratnam (with Vinod R Kamalanathan and Muhammad Azim Akif bin Saiful Bahri) (Vinod Kamalanathan & Assoc) for the appellant. David Matthews (with Alicia Goh Ai Chen and Tan Jing Yi) (KP Lu & Tan) for the respondent.

2. Fima Bulking Services Bhd & Ors v Kazhou Pte Ltd (Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia, proposed intervener) [2026] 7 MLJ 307 [HC]

Coram	ARZIAH MOHAMED APANDI JC
Catchwords	Civil Procedure — Intervention — Application to intervene
Outcome	Appeal dismissed and SAR's decision affirmed.
Counsel Names	Lee Wei Ting (Loh Ivan & Lee ***) for the plaintiff. Najib Zakaria (Najib Hisham Isa) for the intervener.

3. Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan v Kamarul Zaman bin Hj Yusoff [2026] 7 MLJ 323 [HC]

Coram	ALIZA SULAIMAN J
Catchwords	Tort — Defamation — Libel
Outcome	Plaintiff’s claim allowed; global sum of RM400,000 as general and aggravated damages with interest and costs awarded; and injunction sought awarded.
Counsel Names	Sangeet Kaur Deo (with Harkiranjit Kaur a/p Manjit Singh, Tan Chee Kian, Harshaan bin Muhammad Zamani and Ganeraja Krishnan) (Karpal Singh & Co) for the plaintiff. Mohd Khairul Azam (with Balqis Hannan bt Zulkifli) (Azam Aziz & Co) for the defendant.

Week 3 Updates

1. Dato’ Seri Timor Shah Rafiq v Nautilus Tug & Towage Sdn Bhd [2026] 7 MLJ 375 [HC]

Coram	LEONG WAI HONG J
Catchwords	Companies and Corporations — Directors — Removal
Outcome	OS prayers (i) to (v) allowed with costs of RM30,000 subject to allocatur.
Counsel Names	Puteri Shehnaz bt Abdul Majid (with Sasha Ravindran and Samantha Siow San San) (Cheah Teh Su) for the applicant. Sivarajan a/l Navaratnam (with Maurice Ernest Scully and Sheena Stephanie Sebastian) (M Scully) for the first defendant.

2. Siti Zabedah bt Kasim v Akmal Nadzim bin Abdullah & Ors [2026] 7 MLJ 386 [HC]

Coram	SU TIANG JOO J
Catchwords	Tort — Wrongful arrest — Action by advocate and solicitor
Outcome	Plaintiff’s claims allowed with costs of RM100,000 subject to allocatur to be paid by defendants to plaintiff.
Counsel Names	Saha Deva A Arunasalam (with Kevin Ngu Heng Xu and Nik Elin Zurina bt Nik Abdul Rashid) (Saha Assoc) for the plaintiff. Nik Mohd Noor Nik Kar (with Saifulakmal bin Mod Said, Mohd Izhanuddin bin Alias, Arina Azmin bt Ahmad Marzuki and Na’ilah llhani bt Shamsulbahri) (Attorney General's Chamber) for the first–15th, 17th–22nd and 24th defendants. Karen Cheah Yee Lynn (with Anand Raj a/l R Balasupramaniam and Abhilaash a/l Subramaniam) (Abhilaash Subramaniam & Co) amicus curiae from the Malaysian Bar.

3. Badan Peguam Malaysia & Ors v Noor Dellhan bin Yahaya (in the capacity as an Officer in Charge of Police District of Dang Wangi) & Ors [2026] 7 MLJ 451 [HC]

Coram	GAN TECHIONG JC
Catchwords	Tort — False imprisonment — Misfeasance in public office
Outcome	Order accordingly.
Counsel Names	New Sin Yew (with Lee Yee Woei and Izni Syazwani) (Amerbon) for the plaintiff. Muhammad Al-Saifi Hashim (with Asyraf Abd Hamid) (Attorney General's Chambers) for the defendants

Week 4 Updates

1. Tan Sow Mooi v Rainbow Paradise Beach Resort Bhd & Anor [2026] 7 MLJ 475 [HC]

Coram	KENNETH ST JAMES J
Catchwords	Civil Procedure — Appeal — Appeal against decision of sessions court
Outcome	Appeal allowed.
Counsel Names	Andrew Chiew (with Shaleni Anpualagan) (Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill) for the appellant. Wong Xian Zheng (with Suzzanne Tan Kim Peng) (San Law Chambers) for the respondent.

2. Kanagasingam a/l Kandiah v Shireen a/p Chelliah Thiruchelvam & Anor [2026] 7 MLJ 494 [HC]

Coram	EVROL MARIETTE PETERS J
Catchwords	Family Law — Maintenance — Spousal
Outcome	Plaintiff’s claim allowed in part with costs of RM200,000 subject to allocator.
Counsel Names	KS Satkunabalan (with Dinesh Kannen Kandiah) (KS Satkuna & Co) for the plaintiff. K Bhuvaneswari (with V Alahakone) (Bhuvan & Co) for the first defendant. Absent for the second defendant.

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

Coram	GAN TECHIONG JC
Catchwords	Civil Procedure — Contempt of court — Penalty
Outcome	Defendant sentenced to 30 days in jail, ordered to pay RM15,000 in costs to the plaintiff and granted a conditional stay of execution of sentence pending the defendant's appeal against to the Court of Appeal.
Counsel Names	Raam Kumar (with Norleena bt Jamal) (KB Tan, Kumar & Partners) for the plaintiff. Muhammad Rafique bin Rashid Ali (with Muhammad Amirul Ar Rasyid bin Azman and Nurmustanir bin Md Nor) (The Law Practice of Rafique) for the defendant.

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