Revisiting the Right to Remain Silent in Malaysia: Its Significance to the Accused in Criminal Trials
Abstract
When a person faces trial in Malaysia, he has the right to refuse to testify and cannot be forced to do so, known as the right to remain silent. This right protects individuals from self-incrimination. In Malaysia, the right to remain silent is enshrined in the Federal Constitution. However, following the 2006 amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code, the right of the accused to remain silent during trial may not necessarily be advantageous. An analytical approach is adopted throughout the analysis of this issue. This article looks into this amendment which states that when a prima facie case is established against the accused and the prosecution presents credible evidence substantiating each element of the offense, this would justify a conviction if the evidence goes unrebutted or unexplained. It follows that under such scenario, the accused right to remain silent now no longer protects him anymore, rather such right to remain silent exposes himself to a risk of a conviction. Hence this article delves into the current ensuing problem of the increased risk of conviction should the accused choose to remain silent when the prosecution is able to prove prima facie case against him via presentation of credible proof which prove all elements of crime. The article eventually suggests that in overcoming such predicament, the right of the accused to remain silent under such circumstance should be eliminated to ensure that the right to a fair trial is accorded to the accused at all times during trial.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Ahmad Najib bin Aris v. Public Prosecutor [2009] 2 MLJ 613.
Alma Nudo Atenza v. Public Prosecutor and another appeal [2019] 4 MLJ 1.
Arulpragasan Sandaraju v. Public Prosecutor [1997] 1 MLJ 597.
Balachandran v. Public Prosecutor [2005] 2 MLJ 301.
Billy-Joe Friend [1997] 2 Crim. App. R. 231.
Boon Gan v. Regina [1954] 1 MLJ 103.
Cape, Ed. (1999, September 13-16). The right to silence: New developments in England and Wales [Paper presentation]. 12th Commonwealth Law Conference, Kuala Lumpur.
Chin, T.Y. (1991). The admissibility and use of exculpatory statements in Singapore. 3 MLJ xvii.
Choon Jong Hong v. Mohd Zawawi [2018]1 LNS 144.
Chou Kooi Pang & Anor v. Public Prosecutor [1998] 3 SLR 593.
Criminal Procedure Code.
Daly, Y., Pivaty, A., Marchesi, D., & ter Vrugt, P. (2021). Human rights protection in drawing inferences from criminal suspects’ silence. Human Rights Law Review, 21, 696–723.
Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Hj Abdul Razak v. Public Prosecutor [2023] 3 MLJ 40.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim v. Government of Malaysia & Anor [2020] MLJU 2626.
Evidence Act 1950.
Farah Nini Dusuki, Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid, & Saw Tiong Guan. (2018). Casebook on criminal procedure in Malaysia: Jurisdiction of courts and pre-trial matters. University Malaya Press.
Federal Constitution.
Goi Ching Ang v. Public Prosecutor [1999] 1 CLJ 829.
Gomez, J. A. (1995). The right to silence in the United Kingdom and Malaysia. The Commonwealth Lawyer. https://jeraldgomez.com/publications/the-right-to-silence-in-the-united-kingdom-and-malaysia/
Greer, S. (1990). The right to silence: A review of the current debate. The Modern Law Review, 53(6), 709-730.
Griffin v. California [1965] 380 U.S. 606.
Hampton, C. (1977). Criminal procedure and evidence (2nd. ed.). Sweet & Maxwell.
Hamid Sultan Abu Backer. (2001). Janab’s key to criminal procedure evidence advocacy and professional ethics in Malaysia and Singapore. Janab (M) Sdn Bhd.
Haw Tua Tau v. Public Prosecutor [1981] 2 MLJ 49(PC).
Hong Yik Plastics (M) Sdn Bhd v. Ho Shen Lee (M) Sdn Bhd & Anor [2020] 1 MLJ 743.
Ikau Anak Mail v. Public Prosecutor [1973] 2 MLJ 153.
Jal Zabdi Mohd Yusoff. (2003). Pengenalan Undang-Undang Keterangan di Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: UM Press.
Jackson, P. (1973). Natural justice (2nd ed.). Sweet & Maxwell.
Joseph Jr., E. (1976). Rights of accused-law and practice. MLJ ii.
Juraimi Husin v. Public Prosecutor [1998] 1 MLJ 537.
Kartigeyan a/l Krishnan v. Public Prosecutor [2013] 1 MLJ 278.
Ketheeswaran a/l Kanagaratnam & Anor v. Public Prosecutor [2024] 1 MLJ 851.
Krishna Murthy v. Abdul Subban (1965) 1 Cr LJ 565.
Krishna Rao a/l Gurumurthi v. Public Prosecutor and another appeal [2009] 3 MLJ 643.
Lam Chi Ming v. The Queen [1991] 2 A.C. 212.
Lee Kwan Woh v. Public Prosecutor [2009] 5 CLJ 631.
Leng. R. (2001). The right to silence reformed: A re-appraisal of the Royal Commission’s influence. Journal of Civil Liberties, 6(2), 107–133.
Leshem, S. (2010). The benefits of a right to silence for the innocent. RAND Journal of Economics, 41(2), 398-416.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
Maria Chin Abdullah v. Ketua Pengarah Imigresen & Anor [2021] MLJU 13.
Mimi Kamariah Abdul Majid. (1999). Criminal procedure in Malaysia (3rd ed.). University of Malaya Press.
Mohamed Radhi bin Yaakob v. Public Prosecutor [1991] 3 MLJ 169.
Mohamed Salleh v. Public Prosecutor [1969] 1 MLJ 104.
Mohammad Alhalki v. Public Prosecutor [2021] MLJU 2818.
Murphy, B., & Bronitt, S. (2009). Pros and cons of the right to silence: A fundamental right or legal fiction? Legal Date, 21(1), 10-12.
Murray v. DPP [1994] 99 Cr. App. R. 396.
Norbani Mohamed Nazeri & Jal Zabdi Mohd Yusoff. (2007). Perkembangan 50 tahun Kanun Keseksaan di Malaysia. In Farid Sufian (Ed.), Siri perkembangan undang-undang Di Malaysia Jilid 3: Pentadbiran keadilan: Artikel terpilih (pp. 312-355). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Nwagbara, C. (2015). The concept of rights – to be or not to be? International Journal of Business & Law Research 3(3), 66-71.
Palakrishnan. (1999, September 13-16). The right to silence: New development and the Singapore Experience [Paper presentation]. 12th Commonwealth Law Conference, Kuala Lumpur.
Penal Code.
Pendakwa Raya lwn Tan Sri Mohd Isa bin Abdul Samad [2022] 12 MLJ 747.
Pendakwa Raya v. Tan Boon Kwang [2015] MLJU 2079.
Penny, S. (1998). Theories of confession admissibility: A historical view. American Journal of Criminal Law, 25(2), 309-383.
Public Prosecutor v. Chung Chung Kiang & Ors [2008] 8 MLJ 650.
Public Prosecutor v. Fikri Hakim bin Kamarudin & Anor [2021] MLJU 2316.
Public Prosecutor v. Gan Boon Aun & Anor [2012] MLJU 1225.
Public Prosecutor v. Khantan a/l Namasivayam & Ors. [2022] MLJU 823.
Public Prosecutor v. Krishna Rao a/l Gurumurthi [2000] 1 MLJ 274.
Public Prosecutor v. Lee Poh Chye & Anor [1997] 4 MLJ 578.
Public Prosecutor v. Mohd Amin Mohd Razali & Ors [2002] 5 CLJ 281.
Public Prosecutor v. Mohd Radzi Abu Bakar [2005] 6 MLJ 393.
Public Prosecutor v. Muhammad Ng Wah Ling [2021] CLJU 1385.
Public Prosecutor v. Sidek bin Abdullah [2006] 3 MLJ 357.
Public Prosecutor v. Su Liang Yu [1976] 2 MLJ 128.
Public Prosecutor v. Sukumaran a/l Sundram [1999] 4 MLJ 462.
Public Prosecutor v. Yuvaraj [1970] AC 913.
R v. Friend [1997] 2 All E.R. 1011.
R v. Mutch [1973] 1 All E.R. 178.
R v. Sang [1980] A.C. 402.
Rajah, K. S. (1983). Establishing a prima facie case and establishing a case beyond reasonable doubt. MLJ xxxiii.
Raman a/l Kunjiraman v. Public Prosecutor[2018] supp MLJ 86.
Regina v. Cowan, Gayle, and Ricardi [1995] 3 WLR 818.
S v. Masia 1962 (2) S.A. 541 (A).
S v. Scholtz and Another, 1996 (11) B.C.L.R. 1504 (NC); 1996 S.A.C.L.R. LEXIS 38.
S. Chandra Mohan. (1986). Police interrogation and the right of silence in Republic of Singapore. MLJ xxviii.
Sallmann, P., & Willis, J. (1984). Criminal justice in Australia. Oxford University Press.
Saunders v. United Kingdom (App. no. 19187/91) [1996] ECHR 19187/91.
South African Constitution.
Siti Zaharah Jamaluddin, Norchaya Talib, Zulazhar Tahir (2014) Police and the Law, University of Malaya Press, Kuala Lumpur.
Stanley Yeo Meng Heong. (1981). My Lord, the Defendant chooses to remain silence. 23 Mal. L.R. 237.
Stanley Yeo Meng Heong. (1983). Ask me any question and I shall answer all. MLJ lxxxiii.
Stein, A. (2008). The right to silence helps the innocent: A response to critics. Cardozo Law Review, 30(3), 1115-1140.
Stewart v. United States [1961] 366 U.S. 1.
Suradet & Ors v. Public Prosecutor [1993] 3 SLR 265.
Surinder Singh Kanda v. Government of the Federation of Malaya [1962] AC 322, 337.
Tan Kim Ho & Anor v. Public Prosecutor [2009] 3 MLJ 151.
Taufik Goh bin Abdullah v. Public Prosecutor [2021] MLJU 2709.
Took Leng How v. Public Prosecutor [2006] SGCA 3.
Udayar Alagan & Ors v. Public Prosecutor [1962] 1 MLJ 39.
Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Wan Wai Yee. (1996). Right of silence and drawing of adverse inference on the accused’s refusal to testify at trial. Singapore Law Review, 17, 88-122.
Williams, G. L. (1963). The proof of guilt, a study of the English criminal trial (3rd ed.). Stevens & Sons.
Wong Chooi v. Public Prosecutor [1967] 2 MJ 180.
Yong Siew Chen (administratrix on behalf of Chipedo Lee Chi Zhen) v. Tang Ka Leong & Anor [2023] 12 MLJ 459.
Zahira Habibulla H Sheikh v. State of Gujrat AIR 2004 SC 3114.
Zulazhar Tahir. (2005). Perkembangan hak untuk berdiam diri di Malaysia dari perspektif Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997. JUUM 9, 47 - 59.
Zulazhar Tahir. (2007). Perkembangan pernyataan beramaran di dalam Undang-undang Prosedur Jenayah di Malaysia ~ Undang-undang dan etika: Menangani cabaran globalisasi. Prosiding Persidangan Undang-Undang 2007 (UUM), 552.
Zulazhar Tahir & Jal Zabdi Mohd Yusoff. (2012). Kepentingan kebebasan kehakiman dalam konteks keadilan di Malaysia. Prosiding Seminar Antarabangsa Syariah dan Common Law 2012 Kali Ke 2 (ISCOL 2012), 29 – 42.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.