1. ) KARTINI FARAH BINTI ABD RAHIM 2. ) MUKUNNAN A/L SUGUMARAN 3. ) HONG HAI SAN 4. ) SHASHI KUMAR A/L SHANMUGAM v 1. ) Majlis Daerah Besut 2. ) Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu
ta-24ncvc-233-12-2024 High Court (Mahkamah Tinggi) 25 February 2026 • TA-24NCvC-233-12/2024 • 23 min read
9 cases cited
(0 SG, 9 foreign)
Catchwords
Administrative Law – Declaratory relief – Plaintiffs seeking declarations that shooting of stray dog contravened Animal Welfare Act 2015 and that local by-laws were ultra vires – Whether civil court may grant declaratory relief that effectively determines criminal liability under penal provisions – Specific Relief Act 1950, s 6 – Separation of powers – Attorney General’s prerogative under Federal Constitution, art 145(3) – Declarations sought held to be impermissible as they would constitute judicial determination of criminal liability without criminal proceedings Administrative Law – Locus standi – Public interest litigation – Plaintiffs comprising individuals and animal welfare NGO – Whether Plaintiffs “adversely affected” by actions of local authority – Requirement of real and genuine interest – No infringement of private rights demonstrated – No Attorney General’s consent obtained – Plaintiffs residing outside local authority’s jurisdiction – NGO’s membership confined to different state – Locus standi not established – Distinction between constitutional judicial review and statutory challenges – Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur v Perbadanan Pengurusan Trellises & Ors and Other Appeals [2023] 5 CLJ 167 (FC) and Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid & Anor v Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan [2024] 3 CLJ 323 (FC) distinguished Statutory Interpretation – Animal Welfare Act 2015 – Section 30 – Killing of animals by shooting with firearms – Effect of “notwithstanding” clause – Section 30(2) operating as exception to prohibition in s 30(1) – Expressio unius est exclusio alterius – Omission of phrase “by way of shooting with firearms” in s 30(2) indicates Parliament intended to permit such method for all circumstances enumerated – Local authorities authorised under s 30(2)(e) for animal population control – OCBC Bank (M) Bhd v Tan Eng Kwee and Another Application [2003] 6 MLJ 470 (HC) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd v Majlis Daerah Segamat [2022] 2 MLJ 119 (FC) applied Subsidiary Legislation – Validity – Undang-Undang Kecil Pelesenan Anjing (Majlis Daerah Besut) 1990, s 9(1) and (2) – Whether ultra vires Animal Welfare Act 2015 – By-laws enacted under Local Government Act 1976, s 73(1)(m) – Three-fold test applied – By-laws within scope of empowering provision – Not inconsistent with parent Act – No implied repeal – By-laws and AWA 2015 to be read harmoniously – Palm Oil Research and Development Board Malaysia & Anor v Premium Vegetable Oils Sdn Bhd & Another Appeal [2005] 3 MLJ 97 (FC) applied Local Government – Powers of local authority – Destruction of stray dogs – Section 73(1)(m) of Local Government Act 1976 – Relationship with Animal Welfare Act 2015 – Method of destruction governed by AWA 2015 – Local authority may destroy dogs under by-laws provided method complies with AWA 2015 – Section 30(2)(e) AWA 2015 permits shooting for animal population control Government Liability – Vicarious liability – State Government – Whether State Government liable for actions of local authority – Local authority a corporate body with separate legal personality – Government Proceedings Act 1956, s 5 and 6(1) – No basis for imposing liability upon State Government for operational decisions of local authority – Claim against second defendant dismissed Civil Procedure – Originating summons – Declaratory relief – Specific Relief Act 1950, s 6 – Civil court cannot grant relief for mere purpose of enforcing penal law – Government of Malaysia v Lim Kit Siang [1988] 2 MLJ 12 (SC) and Kerajaan Malaysia & Anor v Dr Vijaendreh A/L Subramaniam & Anor (2025) 4 CLJ 234 (FC) applied Costs – Discretion – No order as to costs – Legal challenge misconceived but brought in good faith – Action served public purpose of highlighting concerns regarding stray animal control procedures
Practice Areas
Judges (1)
Counsel (2)
Statutes Cited
Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (Cap 91)
Federal Constitution
Art 145(3)
Local Government Act 1976
s 13 s 73(1)(m)
Specific Relief Act 1950 (Cap 137)
Cases Cited (9)
MY (9)
[1980] 2 MLJ 148 [1988] 2 MLJ 12 [2003] 6 MLJ 470 [2005] 3 MLJ 97 [2017] 3 CLJ 88 [2021] MLJU 1557 [2022] 2 MLJ 119 [2023] 5 CLJ 167 [2024] 3 CLJ 323
Judgment
Read the full judgment on the official Malaysia Courts portal.
Read on eJudgmentSource: eJudgment (ta-24ncvc-233-12-2024)