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JASON JONATHAN LO v. STAR MEDIA GROUP BHD & ORS AND ANOTHER APPEAL
COURT OF APPEAL, PUTRAJAYA
COLLIN LAWRENCE SEQUERAH JCA
FAIZAH JAMALUDIN JCA
ONG CHEE KWAN JCA
[CIVIL APPEAL NOS: B-02(NCvC)(W)-2076-12-2023 & B-02(NCvC)(W)-2096-12-2023]
15 JULY 2026

(i) The failure to provide a Bahasa Malaysia translation of verbatim English defamatory words in a statement of claim does not constitute an automatic or incurable nullity. While pleadings should strictly be in the national language, the proviso to s. 8 of the National Language Acts 1963/67 preserves judicial discretion. Non-compliance is curable where the words are understood, fully contested, and cause no prejudice to the opposing party, thereby prioritising the interests of justice over mere procedural technicalities; (ii) While a court cannot compel an unwilling defendant to issue an apology - as true contrition must be voluntary - it possesses the equitable discretion to order a mandatory retraction of defamatory statements to correct the public record and vindicate the plaintiff's reputation.

PP v. SYED SADDIQ SYED ABDUL RAHMAN
FEDERAL COURT, PUTRAJAYA
ABU BAKAR JAIS PCA
CHE MOHD RUZIMA GHAZALI FCJ
COLLIN LAWRENCE SEQUERAH FCJ
[CRIMINAL APPEAL NOS: 05(LB)-102-06-2025(W), 05(LB)-103-06-2025(W) & 05(LB)-104-06-2025(W)]
13 JULY 2026

(i) A procedural bank withdrawal cannot be equated to an 'expenditure'. Expanding the constitutional/contractual definition of 'expenses', to include a mere 'withdrawal', rewrites the language of the governing instrument without legal basis. Consequently, a failure to obtain prior approval for a bank withdrawal does not, by itself, satisfy the elements or constitute an act of criminal breach of trust; (ii) An accused cannot be convicted of abetment, under s. 109 of the Penal Code ('PC'), if the act of the alleged principal offender is not proven to be criminally wrong or unlawful in the first place. Where the prosecution fails to establish that the primary actor committed the underlying offence, the charge of abetment against the secondary actor must fail; (iii) Funds donated or raised specifically for a designated candidate's political campaign transfer beneficial ownership to that candidate upon collection. Because the candidate is the beneficial owner of those funds, transferring or utilising them for that campaign does not constitute dishonest misappropriation of third-party property, even if held or transited through an intermediary's account; (iv) Where the predicate offence under s. 403 of the PC fails due to a lack of proof of unlawful origin or criminal property, the consequential money laundering charges under s. 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, Anti-Restricted Activity Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 cannot stand, as the funds transferred do not constitute 'proceeds of unlawful activities'.