Did the Malaysian Federal Court in AmGeneral v Sa’Amran revolutionise motor insurance law? [Saamran: 1/11]

There are more private cars on Malaysia’s roads than there are Malaysians to drive them. In one consolidated judgment of eight appeals, the Federal Court in Sa’Amran rebuilt the law that governs what happens when one of them causes harm — and decided, point after point, that the victim comes first. This is the gateway to a ten-part series.

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Can you trust your land title? The hidden dangers you must know, before you lose everything…

“The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.” [Ted Perry, 1971]. Land scams multiply at the speed of a virus. It has many faces. It spreads silently. It strikes without warning. And by the time you realise it, it has destroyed lives. How can you protect yourself? What red flags point to scams?

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Is 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?

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Can the Home Minister declare a 7-star hotel as a prison?

"Don't be ridiculous!", is what you would say. Why not? This is because on March 6, 2025, it was reported that Malaysia’s Home Minister could declare any place (including a house) as a 'prison' under sec.3 of the Prisons Act 1995 (the Act). This was meant to – and did spark – a heated debate: could the Home Minister use his discretion to incarcerate a prisoner at a luxurious residence? ...

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Do 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.

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Is 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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