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2016 MarsdenLR 1282

HIGH COURT (MIRI)
LEE HENG CHEONG, J
Messrs Tai Choi Yu & Co Advocates – Plaintiff
Versus
The Court of Appeal & Ors – Defendant
SUIT NO MYY-22NCVC-14/8-2015(HC)



Advocates:
Tai Choi Yu for the plaintiff.
Shamsul Bolhassan (SFC) for the defendants.

Judges can be lawfully represented by the Attorney-General in official capacities, ensuring judicial integrity is upheld against claims of misconduct lacking substantial evidence.

Headnote:(A) Rules of Court 2012 - Order 18 Rule 19 - Legal representation of judicial officers - Application by Plaintiff to set aside Defendants’ representation by Federal Attorney-General’s Chambers - Representation deemed lawful as it served to protect the institution of judiciary - Plaintiff claims for various declarations against judicial officers alleging bad faith and lack of jurisdiction. (Paras 1-24)

(B) Affidavit Evidence - Principle guiding admissions - Where one party asserts on a material issue, failure of opponent to contradict may usually be treated as admission - However, requirements for a positive assertion with cogent evidence must be satisfied. (Paras 8-14)

(C) Judicial Conduct - Accountability of judges - The Court ruled that judges performing duties in their official capacity can be represented by the Attorney General's Chambers, reinforcing separation of powers and ensuring justice administration. (Paras 18-23)

Facts of the case:
The Plaintiff applied for an order to set aside the Federal Attorney-General’s Chambers’ representation of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants and claimed declarations of judicial misconduct. The Defendants contended that their representation was necessary for the protection of judicial integrity.

Findings of Court:
The Court found no merit in the Plaintiff's application and recognized the Attorney-General's duty to represent judges in official capacities.

Issues: Whether the representation by the Federal Attorney-General’s Chambers was lawful; whether the 2nd and 3rd Defendants can be represented by the Attorney-General; and the effect of affidavit evidence in admitting assertions.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court emphasized the Attorney-General's constitutional duty to represent judiciary officers to preserve the integrity of the judicial system, and clarified that mere allegations without substantial evidence do not support claims against the judges.

Result: Application dismissed with costs.

Table of Content
1. application for order against representation by attorney-general (Para 1 , 2)
2. plaintiff’s claims arising from previous litigation (Para 3 , 4 , 5 , 6)
3. plaintiff's contention regarding defendants' representation (Para 8)
4. evaluation of affidavit evidence and admissions (Para 9 , 11 , 12)

[1]Enclosure 6 is an application by the Plaintiff for an order that the Defendants’ Memorandum of Appearance filed by the Federal Attorney-General’s Chambers be set aside and/or struck off or that the purported representation of the Defendants by the Federal Attorney-General’s Chambers be struck out or deleted under Order 18 Rule 19 Rules of Court 2012 [“ ROC 2012”]

[2]The grounds of the above Notice of Application are :

[i]That the 1st Defendant is an independent arm established under the constitution on the principle of separation of powers of [1] the legislative, [2] the judiciary and [3] the executive and therefore the representation by the Federal Attorney-General’s Chambers is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional;

[ii]That the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are not public servants or public employees and they do not come under the cognizance of the Public Services Commission and the Rules and Regulations thereto;

[iii]The 2nd and 3rd Defendants hold office under contract in their personal capacities and are sued in their personal capacities and therefore they cannot be represented by the Federal Attorney-General’s Chambers; and

[iv]Being independent contractees, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants will be beholden or seen to be beholden to the executive arm of the Government of Malaysia if so represented and therefore the 2nd and 3rd Defendants representation by the Federal Attorney is a nullity, null and void and ultra vires the Constitution and not in accordance with the law

BACKGROUND

[3]In his Statement of Claim, the Plaintiff’s claims for the following orders and reliefs:-

[i]An Order that High Court Suit No.MYY-22-157-2013 be reinstated and to be reverted back to the High Court for hearing on its merits and on quantum meruit or on such terms as the High Court deems fit and just;

[ii]A declaration that the said Order dated the 14.08.2014 in Court of Appeal Civil Appeal No.Q-02(IM)-188-01/2014 is a nullity, null and void or void ab initio on the ground that it is unlawful being a deprivation or denial of access to the Courts, illegal and against public policy and is ultra vires the constitution, arbitrary and oppressive and a gross miscarriage of justice or in breach of established elementary rules of natural justice and further, with no reason given and without the written Grounds of Decision;

[iii]A declaration that the 2nd Defendant acted in bad faith or was reckless or did not in good faith believe that she had jurisdiction to grant the said Order with no reason or Grounds of Decision given or for her refusal and inability to furnish the Grounds of Decision;

[iv]A declaration that the 3rd Defendant acted in bad faith or was reckless or did not in good faith believe that she had had jurisdiction to grant the said Order with no reason or Grounds of Decision given or for her refusal and inability to furnish the Grounds of Decision;

[v]A declaration the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are unfit to be judges on the grounds of bad faith, recklessness or absence of good faith and for their refusal to discharge their duties to give reasons or to furnish their reasoned Judgment for the said Order.

[4]The Plaintiff’s claim herein arose out of a matter in which he was the Plaintiff in Miri High Court Suit No. MYY-22-15/7-2013 [“the said 2013 Suit”] between his law firm, Advocates v. Ting Sie Chung @ Ting Sieh Chung and his appeal to the Court of Appeal, was struck out by an Order of the Court of Appeal [“the said Court of Appeal Order’] in Civil Appeal No. Q— 02(IM)-188-01/2014 on the 14.08.2014.

[5]The said Court of Appeal reversed the High Court’s decision whereby the Defendant/Appellant’s interlocutory Notice of Application [Enclosure 32] in the sa

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