CJ: Malaysia’s first book on statutory interpretation a boon to legal fraternity
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said Malaysia’s first statutory interpretation book will be a useful guide for the country’s legal fraternity.
She congratulated the authors of Statutory Interpretation in Malaysia, particularly Court of Appeal judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais, whom the CJ said had to find time to contribute to the book while keeping up with his written judgments.
“This is a great achievement as this is the first book on statutory interpretation in Malaysia and I’m sure it’s going to be a very useful reference for judges, lawyers and law students alike,” she said when launching the book at the Asian International Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Statutory interpretation is an important subject in the study and application of the law where it emphasises the need to understand the rules and the application of the rules.
This is important for legal practitioners, judges, academics and law students.
It is essential to understand the way words and sentences are used as it covers the principles of interpretation at common law as applied by Malaysian judges.
Abu Bakar said he hoped the book, co-written with Aznul Affendi Hasan Basri and Professor Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod, would advance the comprehension of law as practised in Malaysia.
“We hope this modest attempt will help people understand statutory interpretation in the context of our own laws.
“We think we can further build on this small effort of ours with a second edition of the book in the not-too-distant future,” he said.
The book is available on the Sweet & Maxwell website, either as an e-book (RM246) or a combination of digital and hard-cover editions for RM290.
Chief Judge Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat (centre) is seen during the launch of the book titled ‘Statutory Interpretation in Malaysia’ at the Asian International Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur May 11, 2023. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
