Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Exemplary damages

Legal area

Court

24 Apr 2026

ECONPILE (M) SDN BHD 1. ) IRDK VENTURES SDN BHD (DALAM LIKUIDASI) 2. ) TAN SRI DATO SRI DR. RAMASAMY A/L MUTHUSAMY 3. ) PUAN SRI DATIN SRI DR INDRA GHANDI A/P ELAYAPPAN

Citation

WA-22NCC-39-02/2023 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-22NCC-39-02/2023 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

On the facts the court found that D2 was the directing mind of D1 and that a concerted pattern of wrongful termination, non-payment, delays and dissipation of SPA proceeds was established; plaintiff's cause of action was postponed by discoverability of fraudulent dissipation until 17-6-2016 so the claim was within limitation; estoppel by election did not bar the conspiracy claim; the corporate veil was disregarded to hold D2 jointly and severally liable; compensatory relief equals the proof of debt sum accepted by the liquidator, exemplary damages of RM500,000 were awarded to punish D2, plus…
17 Mar 2026

BEST AMITY SDN BHD 1. ) SAKURA BINTI ARIFFIN 2. ) CHIN TECK SIANG 3. ) CHAU FOOK SANG 4. ) CHIAM TOW YONG

Citation

JA-22NCC-36-07/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

JA-22NCC-36-07/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

On the balance of probabilities the court found D1 breached fiduciary duties by diverting specific company receipts and concealing documents; the Defendants (D1–D4) conspired to misappropriate Flextronics scraps with sufficient inference from admissions and conduct; lorry JHV 3900 was held to belong to the Plaintiff and was converted; damages were assessed conservatively given evidentiary gaps (special damages RM92,048.90 against D1; RM250,000 joint and several for Flextronics conspiracy; RM175,760 joint and several for lorry conversion; RM60,000 general and RM60,000 exemplary damages jointly…
26 Feb 2026

ENCOVE SDN. BHD. 1. ) CHIN SIEW HA 2. ) JASMYRLINDA BINTI JARAEH

Citation

WA-B54-32-07/2025 (Mahkamah Sesyen)
Court

Sessions Court
Case number

WA-B54-32-07/2025 (Mahkamah Sesyen)

Plaintiff failed to prove on the balance of probabilities the elements of conversion, detinue or trespass because defendants acted in their capacities as directors or agents to protect company assets and offered audit access; material facts are disputed making originating summons inappropriate; the dispute is essentially corporate governance properly determined in ongoing proceedings in Kota Kinabalu; accordingly the originating summons is dismissed with costs.
25 Feb 2026

MUHAMMAD ALIFF IKHMAL BIN JESSRY 1. ) PENGARAH HOSPITAL KOTA TINGGI JOHOR BAHRU 2. ) DR MUHAMMAD FEROZ BIN HASSAN 3. ) PENGARAH HOSPITAL SULTANAH AMINAH JOHOR BAHRU 4. ) DR FAISAL BIN ARSHAD 5. ) DR GUNASEELAN PONNUSAMY 6. ) KERAJAAN MALAYS

Citation

JA-21NCvC-5-02/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

JA-21NCvC-5-02/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Res judicata/estoppel did not bar the present action because the defendants did not plead it and the prior consent judgment involved different parties and a distinct cause of action; the plaintiff is entitled to general damages of RM160,000 for above-knee amputation, loss of earning capacity RM90,000, family caregiving RM13,600 and surgical report costs RM2,770.55; the plaintiff is entitled to a microprocessor-controlled knee prosthesis as the appropriate device and a lump-sum award for lifetime prosthesis cost of RM1,700,712.00 after applying an actuarial discount; aggravated and exemplary d…
11 Jan 2026

BEN SIDI MANAGEMENT SDN BHD FARIS IRWAN BIN SHAFPII

Citation

TA-B53CY-1-04/2023 (Mahkamah Sesyen)
Court

Sessions Court
Case number

TA-B53CY-1-04/2023 (Mahkamah Sesyen)

Court found postings were defamatory in natural and ordinary meaning, referred to plaintiff despite absence of name because context identified the contractor, and were published to third parties on Facebook; defendant failed to establish justification and fair comment because of malice and inability to prove truth (CCC issued later did not validate defendant’s assertions regarding the state of workmanship at publication); accordingly plaintiff entitled to remedies: unconditional public apology (video with specified content), permanent injunction restraining repetition, general damages RM20,00…
8 Dec 2025

1. ) M3 TECHNOLOGIES (ASIA) BERHAD 2. ) M3 ONLINE SDN BHD 1. ) VOON SZE LIN 2. ) LIM SENG BOON 3. ) MAISARAH BINTI SAHRAN 4. ) ASMA BINTI ARIPIN 5. ) YAP SIEW DEEN 6. ) MUHAMMAD FATAHUL HARUN BIN SUMAP 7. ) FOO MING CHEONG 8. ) ZAIFAH BINTI

Citation

WA-22IP-41-07/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-22IP-41-07/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The plaintiffs, by failing to pay security for costs and electing not to call evidence at trial, abandoned the main action which is therefore dismissed; D3, D4 & D9 have a valid cause of action in unlawful interference with trade based on unjustified invocation of legal process and proved, on a balance of probabilities and in light of unchallenged testimony, that D9 suffered commercial harm warranting nominal and exemplary damages; consequential awards are RM10,000 nominal and RM300,000 exemplary plus costs.
27 Nov 2025

1. ) XXXX 2. ) Ilhamsani Isham Bin Baharom 1. ) Dr. Mohammad Izham Bin Ishak 2. ) Kelinik Rahim, Hamzah, Halim dan Razali Sdn. Bhd.

Citation

TA-B52NCvC-19-11/2024 (Mahkamah Sesyen)
Court

Sessions Court
Case number

TA-B52NCvC-19-11/2024 (Mahkamah Sesyen)

Leave to amend was refused because the application was not bona fide: plaintiffs delayed (~8 months) and failed to exercise due diligence despite facts being known at the time of filing; the proposed additions (aggravated and exemplary damages and solicitor-client costs) would change the character and increase the seriousness of the claim, causing prejudice to the Second Defendant that is not adequately compensable by costs.
27 Nov 2025

1. ) WAN YUNUS BIN WAN ABDUL RAHIM 2. ) Habsah Bin Mat Nayan 1. ) Nikkinesh Devian A/l Surendharan Kumar 2. ) NAWA TRADING 3. ) JABATAN KERJA RAYA JAJAHAN NEGERI KELANTAN 4. ) Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan

Citation

DA-A53KJ-124-02/2021 (Mahkamah Sesyen)
Court

Sessions Court
Case number

DA-A53KJ-124-02/2021 (Mahkamah Sesyen)

On the balance of probabilities the court found the main cause of the fatal accident was the improperly constructed and unmarked road hump; Defendant 3 failed to provide adequate warnings or traffic control and failed to explain the cause of the accident; Defendant 4 (JKR) and Defendant 5 (State) are vicariously/statutorily liable for 80% of liability together with Defendant 3, while Defendant 1 is 20% contributory liable; plaintiffs established entitlement to bereavement, funeral and dependency damages in specified amounts.
18 Nov 2025

1. ) PERMODALAN KELANTAN BERHAD 2. ) KOPERASI PERMODALAN KELANTAN BERHAD KOPERASI SAHABAT AMANAH IKHTIAR MALAYSIA BERHAD

Citation

WA-B52NCC-995-12/2022 (Mahkamah Sesyen)
Court

Sessions Court
Case number

WA-B52NCC-995-12/2022 (Mahkamah Sesyen)

On the balance of probabilities the defendant knowingly opened and operated the two disputed branches without the prior written approvals required by the Ar-Rahn franchise terms and used the plaintiffs' registered trademarks and system without permission, thereby breaching the franchise terms and committing passing off; plaintiffs proved loss and entitlement to injunctive relief, account of profits or assessment of damages and to exemplary and aggravated damages and costs.
18 Nov 2025

1. ) YONG LEE YOONG SEBAGAI IBU YANG SAH DAN PENANGGUNGAN KEPADA GIGGS TAN KA QING SIMATI UNTUK DIRI SENDIRI 2. ) YONG LEE YOONG SEBAGAI WAKIL DIRI DAN/ATAU PENTADBIR KEPADA HARTA PUSAKA GIGGS TAN KA QING SIMATI DI BAWAH SEKSYEN 8 AKTA UNDA

Citation

JA-B53KJ-49-03/2024 (Mahkamah Sesyen)
Court

Sessions Court
Case number

JA-B53KJ-49-03/2024 (Mahkamah Sesyen)

On balance of probabilities the defendant driver drove into oncoming traffic and zig‑zagged between lanes causing a head‑on collision; defendants are 100% liable and defendant company is vicariously liable; plaintiffs proved dependency, KWSP losses, bereavement and specified special damages with admissible evidence; exemplary damages rejected because not pleaded and statutory/authoritative threshold not met.