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2025 MarsdenLR 4921
Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd – Plaintiff
Versus
Industrial Court Malaysia & Anor – Defendant
Judicial review of Industrial Court awards is permitted under common law, and parties may bypass s 33A procedural requirements, reaffirmed by federal precedents against erroneous statutory interpretations.
Headnote:(A) Industrial Relations Act 1967 - Sections 33A and 33B - Judicial Review Application - Appellant's application for judicial review dismissed by High Court due to improper procedure - Court held that challenges to the Industrial Court's awards must follow s 33A provisions; judicial review applications cannot bypass statutory mechanisms. (Paras 59-61)
(B) Judicial Review - Jurisdiction of High Court - Judicial review is an inherent power available for parties dissatisfied with the Industrial Court's decisions; courts may scrutinize both procedure and substance. (Paras 45-47)
(C) Precedent - High Court decisions on judicial review of Industrial Court awards must align with Federal Court precedents; parties may invoke judicial review without prior recourse to s 33A procedures. (Paras 75-77)
Facts of the case:
Appellant dismissed employee without just cause; employee contested dismissal, Industrial Court ruled in favor of the employee, leading to judicial review application by employer. (Paras 8-13)
Findings of Court:
The High Court's dismissal of the judicial review application was erroneous; judicial review is permissible under existing law without prior referral to Industrial Court under s 33A. (Paras 53-55)
Issues: Whether the appellant can challenge Industrial Court award through judicial review under O 53 of the RHC without following s 33A of the IRA. (Paras 3-5)
Ratio Decidendi: Appellate courts are empowered to conduct judicial reviews without being constrained by statutory referral requirements; previous Federal Court rulings support this principle. (Paras 70-72)
Result: Appeal allowed with costs, matter remitted for full hearing.
Ramly Ali JCA (delivering judgment of the court)
THE APPEAL
This is an appeal against the decision of the learned judicial commissioner dismissing the appellant’s judicial review application on a preliminary objection of the second respondent on the ground that the appellant should have, in the light of the specific provisions of s 33A Industrial Relations Act 1967 (‘the IRA ’)Court award (Award No 1441/2009) by way of reference to the High Court on a question of law under the said s 33A and not by way of a judicial review application under O 53 of the Rules of the High Court 1980 (‘the RHC’).
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The second respondent commenced employment with the appellant company as an administration superintendent on 1 August 1984. He was confirmed in that post on 20 December 1984. He was then promoted to the post of assistant administration manager on 1 February 1996 and was assigned with the responsibility to manage all housing matters of the company. He held that post until he was dismissed on 2 March 2006.
On 7 February 2006, the second respondent was issued with a show cause letter and was suspended from work for 14 days with half pay with effect from 8 February 2006 with regard to two allegations of misconduct. He replied to the show cause letter on 9 February 2006. He was later served with a letter dated 13 February 2006 requiring him to appear before a domestic inquiry proceeding on 16 February 2006 purportedly on two charges. After expiry of his 14 days suspension, he was later suspended from work on full pay until the panel of the domestic inquiry had made a decision.
On 2 March 2006, the appellant company, on recommendation of the panel of the domestic inquiry, dismissed the second respondent from his employment.
The dispute, as to his dismissal, was referred to the Industrial Court by the Minister under s 20(3) IRA
AT THE INDUSTRIAL COURT
The Industrial Court found that the appellant company has failed on the balance of probability to establish both the allegations against the second respondent and concluded that the second respondent was dismissed without just cause or excuse. The Industrial Court ordered the appellant company to pay backwages to the second respondent from the date of his dismissal (on 2 March 2006) till the last date of the hearing (on 9 October 2008) but limited to 24 months, together with compensation of one month’s salary for each completed year of service.
Aggrieved by the decision of the Industrial Court, the appellant company filed an application for judicial review at the High Court pursuant to O 53 of the RHC.
AT THE HIGH COURT
On 15 January 2010, the appellant filed an ex parte application for leave to initiate judicial review proceedings. On 11 February 2010, leave was granted for the appellant to apply for an order of certiorari and to stay the Industrial Court award and/or actions and proceedings by the second respondent pending the disposal of the judicial review. On 25 February 2010 notice of hearing of the application for judicial review was filed at the High Court, and on 25 March 2010 notice of preliminary objection of the second respondent was served on the appellant’s solicitors. On 30 March 2010, the learned judicial commissioner allowed the preliminary objection and dismissed the judicial review application with costs to the second respondent to be taxed unless agreed.
On 21 April 2010, the appellant being dissatisfied with the said order of the learned judicial commissioner appealed to the Court of Appeal against the said decision. Hence the present appeal before us.
THE SECOND RESPONDENT’S CONTENTIONS
At the commencement of the inter parte hearing for the judicial review proceeding, the learned counsel for the second respondent raised a preliminary objection on the mode of proceeding adopted by the appellant. The second respondent contended that the application to challenge the said award ought to have been by way of reference to the High Court on question of law unders 33AIRAs 33B
