How Long Does a Civil Lawsuit Take in Malaysia, and How Do You Sue Someone? | Berapa Lama Kes Saman Sivil dan Cara Menyaman

By Muhammad Faiz bin Hasan, Advocate & Solicitor

Short answer: a reasonably straightforward civil lawsuit in Malaysia commonly reaches trial within about 9 to 12 months of filing, with judgment following at or after the trial. The Malaysian courts work to case disposal targets; the Chief Justice reported in 2020 a target of nine months for civil cases. A case can end much sooner by default judgment, summary judgment or settlement, and it takes longer if it is complex or goes on appeal.

How to sue someone in Malaysia: the steps

1. Check your claim and the time limit. Identify the legal basis of the claim (for example breach of contract or negligence) and the evidence. Claims in contract and tort must generally be filed within six years under section 6(1)(a) of the Limitation Act 1953, and within 36 months against a public authority under the Public Authorities Protection Act 1948.
2. Send a letter of demand. This gives the other party a chance to pay or settle, and often resolves the matter without litigation.
3. Choose the right court. The Magistrates' Court hears claims up to RM100,000, the Sessions Court up to RM1 million (and without limit for motor vehicle accident, landlord and tenant and distress claims), and the High Court hears claims above RM1 million.
4. File the writ and statement of claim. Court papers are filed electronically. For service, a writ is valid for six months from its issue (Order 6 rule 7, Rules of Court 2012).
5. Serve the papers on the defendant in accordance with Order 10.
6. Appearance and defence. The defendant must enter appearance within 14 days after service (Order 12) and file a defence within 14 days after the time for appearance expires (Order 18). If he does not, the plaintiff may enter default judgment.
7. Summary judgment. Where there is no genuine defence, the plaintiff may apply for summary judgment under Order 14 without a full trial.
8. Case management. The court gives directions on documents, witness statements and trial dates (Order 34), and may encourage mediation.
9. Trial and judgment. Witnesses give evidence and are cross-examined, followed by submissions and the court's decision.
10. Appeal. An appeal from the Magistrates' or Sessions Court to the High Court must be filed within 14 days of the decision (Order 55), and an appeal from the High Court to the Court of Appeal within one month (Rules of the Court of Appeal 1994).
11. Enforcement. If the losing party does not pay, the judgment is enforced through the court, for example by seizure and sale of assets or garnishee proceedings.

What makes a case faster or slower?

• Faster: the defendant does not defend (default judgment), the claim is a clear debt suitable for summary judgment, or the parties settle at mediation.
• Slower: many interlocutory applications, several witnesses or expert witnesses, difficulty serving the defendant, adjournments, or an appeal to the Court of Appeal and possibly the Federal Court.
• Court load: waiting times vary between courts and locations.

Are there cheaper or faster options?

For an individual's money claim of up to RM5,000, the small claims procedure under Order 93 of the Rules of Court 2012 is designed to be simple and is conducted without lawyers at the hearing. Mediation, whether court-annexed or private, can also bring a dispute to an end much sooner than trial.

For a more detailed discussion in Malay, read Berapa Lama Kes Mahkamah Sivil di Malaysia? If you have been sued instead, read how to respond to a civil summons (in Malay), and for limitation periods, time limits for filing a claim (in Malay). For advice on a civil dispute or contract claim, you may contact our office or read about our civil litigation and contract dispute practice. FAAIZ Law conducts civil litigation across Malaysia, including Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Perak and Kedah.

This article is general information on Malaysian civil procedure and is not legal advice on any particular case. Durations are indicative only and depend on the facts and the court.

oleh Muhammad Faiz bin Hasan, Peguambela & Peguamcara

Jawapan ringkas: guaman sivil yang agak mudah di Malaysia lazimnya sampai ke peringkat perbicaraan dalam tempoh kira-kira 9 hingga 12 bulan dari tarikh pemfailan, dan penghakiman diberikan semasa atau selepas perbicaraan. Mahkamah di Malaysia bekerja berdasarkan sasaran pelupusan kes; Ketua Hakim Negara melaporkan pada tahun 2020 sasaran sembilan bulan bagi kes sivil. Kes boleh tamat jauh lebih awal melalui penghakiman ingkar, penghakiman terus atau penyelesaian, dan mengambil masa lebih lama jika kompleks atau dirayu.

Cara menyaman seseorang di Malaysia: langkah demi langkah

1. Semak tuntutan dan had masa. Kenal pasti asas undang-undang tuntutan (contohnya pelanggaran kontrak atau kecuaian) dan keterangan yang ada. Tuntutan kontrak dan tort secara amnya mesti difailkan dalam tempoh enam tahun di bawah seksyen 6(1)(a) Akta Had Masa 1953, dan dalam tempoh 36 bulan terhadap pihak berkuasa awam di bawah Akta Perlindungan Pihak Berkuasa Awam 1948.
2. Hantar surat tuntutan. Ini memberi peluang kepada pihak lawan untuk membayar atau menyelesaikan, dan sering menyelesaikan perkara tanpa litigasi.
3. Pilih mahkamah yang betul. Mahkamah Majistret mendengar tuntutan sehingga RM100,000, Mahkamah Sesyen sehingga RM1 juta (dan tanpa had bagi tuntutan kemalangan kenderaan motor, tuan rumah dan penyewa, serta tahan harta atau distress), dan Mahkamah Tinggi mendengar tuntutan melebihi RM1 juta.
4. Failkan writ dan pernyataan tuntutan. Kertas kausa difailkan secara elektronik. Bagi tujuan penyampaian, writ sah selama enam bulan dari tarikh dikeluarkan (Aturan 6 kaedah 7, Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012).
5. Sampaikan kertas kausa kepada defendan mengikut Aturan 10.
6. Kehadiran dan pembelaan. Defendan mesti memasukkan kehadiran dalam tempoh 14 hari selepas penyampaian (Aturan 12) dan memfailkan pembelaan dalam tempoh 14 hari selepas tamat masa untuk kehadiran (Aturan 18). Jika tidak, plaintif boleh memasukkan penghakiman ingkar.
7. Penghakiman terus. Jika tiada pembelaan yang sebenar, plaintif boleh memohon penghakiman terus di bawah Aturan 14 tanpa perbicaraan penuh.
8. Pengurusan kes. Mahkamah memberi arahan tentang dokumen, pernyataan saksi dan tarikh perbicaraan (Aturan 34), dan boleh menggalakkan pengantaraan.
9. Perbicaraan dan penghakiman. Saksi memberi keterangan dan disoal balas, diikuti hujahan dan keputusan mahkamah.
10. Rayuan. Rayuan dari Mahkamah Majistret atau Mahkamah Sesyen ke Mahkamah Tinggi mesti difailkan dalam tempoh 14 hari dari tarikh keputusan (Aturan 55), dan rayuan dari Mahkamah Tinggi ke Mahkamah Rayuan dalam tempoh sebulan (Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah Rayuan 1994).
11. Penguatkuasaan. Jika pihak yang kalah tidak membayar, penghakiman dikuatkuasakan melalui mahkamah, contohnya melalui penyitaan dan penjualan aset atau prosiding garnisi.

Apa yang menyebabkan kes lebih cepat atau lebih lambat?

• Lebih cepat: defendan tidak membela (penghakiman ingkar), tuntutan ialah hutang yang jelas dan sesuai untuk penghakiman terus, atau pihak-pihak berdamai melalui pengantaraan.
• Lebih lambat: banyak permohonan interlokutori, ramai saksi atau saksi pakar, kesukaran menyampaikan kertas kepada defendan, penangguhan, atau rayuan ke Mahkamah Rayuan dan mungkin Mahkamah Persekutuan.
• Beban kes mahkamah: tempoh menunggu berbeza mengikut mahkamah dan lokasi.

Adakah pilihan yang lebih murah atau lebih cepat?

Bagi tuntutan wang oleh individu sehingga RM5,000, prosedur tuntutan kecil di bawah Aturan 93 Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012 direka supaya mudah dan dijalankan tanpa peguam semasa pendengaran. Pengantaraan, sama ada melalui mahkamah atau secara persendirian, juga boleh menamatkan pertikaian jauh lebih awal berbanding perbicaraan.

Untuk perbincangan lebih terperinci, baca Berapa Lama Kes Mahkamah Sivil di Malaysia? Jika anda pula yang disaman, baca cara menjawab saman mahkamah sivil, dan tentang had masa, had masa untuk memfailkan tuntutan. Jika anda memerlukan nasihat berkenaan pertikaian sivil atau tuntutan kontrak, anda boleh menghubungi pejabat kami atau membaca tentang amalan litigasi sivil dan pertikaian kontrak kami. FAAIZ Law mengendalikan litigasi sivil di seluruh Malaysia, termasuk Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Perak dan Kedah.

Artikel ini ialah maklumat am tentang prosedur sivil Malaysia dan bukan nasihat undang-undang bagi mana-mana kes tertentu. Tempoh yang dinyatakan hanyalah anggaran dan bergantung pada fakta serta mahkamah.