LW2MLS: Malaysian Legal System

Module code: LW2MLS

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Ms Sati Salmah Sukarmijan, email: s.s.sukarmijan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 7 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module provides both an introduction to what is the law and how it operates in society, as well the organization and administration of the secular and Syariah legal system in Malaysia. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the nature, scope and features of the Malaysian Legal System;
2. Demonstrate an appreciation of the sources of the Malaysian Legal System (including case law and statutory interpretation;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the functions of the institutions and systems with which the law is administered in Malaysia;
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational and historical aspects of the Malaysian Legal System and how the law has evolved based on the economic, social, cultural, commercial and political framework in Malaysia;
5. Demonstrate an awareness of the nature of law, categories of law, the various possible approaches to law and the concept of a legal system. 

Module content

For this module, students will be covering the following topics;

1. Introduction to Malaysian Legal System
2. Malaysian Legal History
3. Sources of Law- Written Law
4. Sources of Law – Unwritten Law
5. Malaysian Court System
6. Judiciary
7. Attorney General
8. Legal Profession
9. Legal Aid
10. Islamic Law and Its Administration
11. Article 121 (1A) – Jurisdiction of Syariah Court vs Civil Court

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be divided into topics. Teaching for each topic will typically involve:  

1 x 2hr lectures and 1 x 1hr lectures (3hr of lectures per week)  

1 x 2hr tutorial (alternate weeks)  

1 x 1hr blended learning  

There will, in addition, be revision lectures. 

In addition to the hours listed below, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 60 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

1,250 word Assignment  

Reassessment

Additional costs