What if the people you trust with your property quietly sell it—and then insist the contract lets them? In a Singapore case about 14 vintage cars, the court reached for a centuries‑old “ghost” of English law called bailment. Can that ghost still decide modern disputes? If you ever leave anything in someone else’s hands, you should read this essay
Read MoreWill the AG–PP split stop political interference in prosecutions?
For decades, one person in Putrajaya has worn two hats. He advises the government on how to stay in power. He decides who will be prosecuted and who will quietly walk away. Does the new “AG–PP split” Bill truly cut that cord, or simply dresses old political control in the language of 'reform'? Do you know what I think?
Read MoreWill limiting the PM’s tenure stop political ‘musical chairs’ or ‘shadow PMs’?
Will a ten‑year cap on Malaysia’s prime minister really prevent political ‘musical chairs’ or shadow rulers?
Read MoreHow will Artificial Intelligence impact judicial decision‑making?
It’s no longer if—but when—your next court ruling will be shaped by AI. Judges worldwide already lean on algorithms to sift through files, assess risks, and even draft early versions of judgments. This piece explores how deeply AI has entered courtrooms, where it can do the heavy lifting for overloaded court systems—but also why human judgment must stay at the heart of justice.
Read MoreFiltering Appeals: How could the Court of Appeal improve section 68 CJA Leave Applications?
Step into the Court of Appeal on a busy day. Fifteen or more leave applications, each one dragging on—an hour gone with every hearing. Judges listen, counsel argue, yet somehow the essentials get lost in the shuffle. Is there a better way?
Read MoreHas the RTA made the ‘insurable interest defence’ and the ‘recovery action,’ redundant?
Should innocent accident victims be forced into costly legal battles twice—once against the driver and again, [by what has come to be known as a ‘Recover Action’] against the insurer? How did Malaysia’s Federal Court in the 2022 Sa' Amran decision demolish 70 years of established insurance practice? How did it revolutionise third-party victim compensation?
Read MoreWhat Happened During the Malaysian Judicial Crisis in 1988?
In 1988, a tremor rent Malaysia’s halls of justice: an institutional earthquake that cleaved its very bedrock. Constitutional pillars crumbled; and the Beacon that once burned bright for Justice flickered, and then, died. Sacred robes, woven with centuries of honour, lay torn in the rubble. The Unthinkable carved its wound into the very beating heart of the Constitution. Here sleep the lasting memories of those who fell, shields raised against the ...
Read MoreIs a prime minister immune from civil suits?
Do you remember an essay I wrote in 2018? The one that argued that a former PM enjoyed no immunity from criminal prosecution? Stand that principle on its head. Is a prime minister immune from a civil suit, [e.g. a suit for breach of contract to buy a property]? What if she did enjoy such an immunity? What would happen?
Read MoreDo Malaysian non-Muslims have the fundamental right to worship?
The answer is, Yes. The Malaysian Federal Constitution, specifically Article 11(1), read with Art 3(1) and (5), guarantees every individual’s right to ‘profess’, ‘practice’, and, subject to certain laws prohibiting proselytisation to Muslims, to ‘propagate’ their religion. The Constitution therefore guarantees that non-Muslims have the same fundamental right of worship as do our Muslim counterparts. I will all tell you an interesting story at the end.
Read MoreIs the test for a stay of execution in personal injury cases, different?
The test for a stay of execution in personal injury cases involving the Road Transport Act 1987 (RTA) differs significantly from other civil cases. This essay examines the nuances of this test and addresses several key questions. It concludes that the test is far higher because of the operation of sec. 96(2)(b), read with ss.96(1) and 91(3) of the RTA. The other question is whether the insurer's 'right to intervene' ...
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