Malaysian Legal System Introduction to Law
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA-FAKULTI FILEM TEATER & ANIMASI-ZOOM NOTES MALAYSIAN LEGAL SYSTEM+INTRODUCTION TO LAW Sources of Law: statutes, law reports, text books, religious beliefs, local customs, opinion of jurists ? Law & Morality:Overlaps/Differs from Society e. g-gayism/illicit samsu-S’wak/P’sular ? Law & Justice:Uphold justice & depends on locality e. g rampancy ? Federal Constitution (lex locci)/ Written Constitution ? Highest Law of the land ? Malaysian/human rights/liberty ? Any laws against the Federal Constitution-null & void ? e. : retrospective penal provision/trial by the same offence/represented by a legal practitioner – 24hrs MALAYSIAN LEGAL SYSTEM-MAXIM:CHECK & BALANCE/MONTESQIEU ? JUDICIARY ? EXECUTIVE ? LEGISTLATIVE TYPES OF LAW: ? Written Law-e. g. acts/Unwritten Law- e. g. courts decicion ? Public Law e. g. criminal law / Private Law e. g. contract law ? Binding Precedent:Higher Court binds the lower ? PersuasivePrecedent:Courts of the same level: persuasive LAW OF CONTRACT ELEMENTS:- 1. Offer To be distinguished from ‘invitation to treat’:Advertisement 2.
Acceptance 3. Intention to create legal relationship Mere promise for lunch treat is NOT binding 4. Consideration Except: Natural Love & Affection:e. g. Father to Son 5. Certainty 6. Capacity-Sound Mind MINOR General principle is not binding & restricted to the followings: ? contracts for necessaries –eg: contracts to have food, clothes & purpose of education. ? contracts for scholarship – a scholarship agreement is valid. ? contracts for insurance – under the Insurance Act,1963, an infant over the age of 10 may enter into a contract of insurance.
H/e, if he is below 16, he can only do so with the written consent of his parents or guardian. CONTRACT: VALID: SAH VOID: BATAL VODABLE: BOLEH BATAL; VOIDABLE:If proven the existence of these elements: ? COERCION (paksaan) ? UNDUE INFLUENCE (tidak sewajar atau sepatutnya) ? FRAUD (penipuan) ? MISREPRESENTATION (gambaran yang salah) ? MISTAKE (kesilapan) LAW OF TORTS ELEMENTS:DUTY OF CARE- NOT TO BREACHED/TO ACT REASONABLY 1. NEGLIGENCE 2. TRESPASS Trespass to person/trespass to land / goods. Trespass to persons : ? Assault; ? battery; false imprisonment. “TRESSPASSERS SHALL BE LIABLE NOT PROSECUTED” 3. NUISANCE i. public nuisance ii. private nuisance. 4. DEFAMATION ? LIBEL- publication ? SLANDER-words ? GENERAL DEFENCES (EXCEPTIONS) NEGATING LIABILITY IN TORT : 1) VOLENTI NON FIT INJURIA – 2) MISTAKE 3) INEVITABLE ACCIDENT 4) ACT OF GOD 5) PRIVATE DEFENCE . 6) NECESSITY 7) STATUTORY CONTRACT| TORT| 2 sides/ parties| Maybe More than 2parties| Written/Unwritten| No written aggreement required| Remedy: Damages| Remedy: Damages| Duty: Contractual Duty| Duty: Duty of Care|
COMPANY,PARTNERSHIP & SOLE PROPRIETOR SOLE PROPRIETOR • SOLE PROPRIETOR-ENTERPRISE • REGISTRATION-LOW FEES • EASY TO OPERATE • MOST COMMON • BUSINESS/INDIVIDUAL/ENTERPRISE= SAME ENTITY • RESOURCES:OWN/FRIENDS/FAMILY • 1 MAN SHOW • FAST ON DECISION-START/CEASE • OPERATE FROM HOME/NO OFFICE PARTNERSHIP • PARTNERSHIP-TEAM UP;RESOURCES-TANGIBLE/INTANGIBLE • BIGGER SCALE • RESOURCES-TANGIBLE/INTANGIBLE • POPULAR AMONG PROFESSIONALS • LIABILITY/PROFIT SHARED PARTNERSHIP- NO AGREEMENT-PRESUMPTION=EQUALLY LIABLE • PARTNERSHIP-WITH AGREEMENT-ACCORDING TO AGREEMENT • PARTNER ACTING ON BEHALF OF PARTNERSHIP-BINDING • PERSONAL ASSET=LIABLE COMPANY • COMPANY-SEPARATE ENTITY • RESOURCES-CAPITAL-PAID UP/AUTHORISED • DOCUMENTATIONS:MEMORANDUM/ARTICLE • REGISTERED OFFICE • COSTLY • COMPANY SECRETARY • RESOLUTIONS-LOANS? FINANCING? • PERSONAL ASSET/COMPANY ASSET • AUDITED /ANNUAL MEETING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY * REAL PRORERTY- Building/chattels/land/house=tangible PERSONAL PROPERTY-Jewelleries,laptops,handphones/cars=tangible * INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY-the intangible product of one person’s work by hand/brain against unauthorized use or exploitation by another ? Berne Copyright Convention 1886:135 countries PROTECTION-INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:e. g. to be protected ? PATENT ? TRADEMARK ? INDUSTRIAL DESIGN ? CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ? TRADE SECRET ? COPYRIGHT ? GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATOR ? INTERGRATED CIRCUIT ? INDUSTRIAL DESIGN Section 7 of the Act, Copyright Act includes: ? literary works ? musical works ? artistic works ? films ? sound recordings broadcasts PRE REQUISITE FOR PROTECTION: • Sec 7 (3) ORIGINAL/GENUINE • Sec 8 (3) MATERIAL FORM • Sec 17 DURATION: 50 YRS AFTER DEATH MULTIMEDIA LAW Technology * “A body of knowledge used to create tools, develop skills & extract or collect materials” * “An evolution of idea” * “Impacting the world-creating new wealth, reshaping economy & social policy” General-New Media * Email * Social network * Video conference * Digitalisation -Nothing can replace face to face communication -Cost effective-travel/ accessible large group -New skills required Same effect-“on line” & “off line” -Virtual -No barrier Privacy ‘The right to be left alone’ Tresspass to:- * Personal Data-biological/genetics : DNA /banks * Freedom-human rights * Privacy-private life Remedy ? Federal Constitution ? Civil Proceedings ? Penal Code ? Personal Data Protection Act ? Communication & Multimedia Act Malaysian Regulatory Body “Suruhanjaya Komunikasi Multimedia”-THE AUTHORITY e. g. All cellular phone accounts need to be registered JURISDICTION: – Post/courier – Energy – Telecoms – Digital certification authorities