Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim CJSS:

Introduction

[1] There are six appeals that were heard together despite there being different parties involved, except in two cases - Case A and Case C (which will be enumerated later) where the parties are the same. We heard oral submissions by all learned counsel representing the respective parties on two separate dates. At the end of those submissions, we stood down for the panel members to deliberate. Unfortunately, we were not able to come up with a decision on that day. We therefore indicated to all learned counsel that we needed a bit of time to consider the respective submissions and that they would be informed once a decision is reached pertaining to each of these appeals, in due course. We have now reached our decisions and what follow below are our deliberations of the issues raised and our reasons as to why we have so decided.

[2] My learned brothers Justices Vernon Ong and Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal and my learned sisters Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Justice Hasnah Mohammed Hashim had read this judgment in draft and they had indicated to me their agreement with it and that it becomes the judgment of this Court.

[3] Although there