Clear Law. Real Cases
The Federal Court has granted Petronas leave to challenge the constitutionality of several Sarawak state laws governing petroleum. The case will test the division of regulatory authority over natural resources between the Federation and the Borneo states — and the legal effect of the bargains struck at Malaysia’s founding.
When seven Orang Asli villagers sued a company for destroying their ancestral graves, the Federal Court ruled that customary land rights survive relocation and cannot be extinguished by a commercial lease. The decision is a landmark affirmation that indigenous dignity and constitutional protections extend to burial grounds, even when titles change hands.
A Nigerian man served his one‑day sentence for drink driving but was detained for 40 days. The High Court awarded RM675,000 in damages for unlawful confinement.
A judicial review tested whether a royal addendum could bypass the Pardons Board. The High Court said no.