Page 18 - PRINCIPLE OF LAW- FINAL (eISBN) pdf

Politeknik Kota Bharu

1.3 LAW AND THE NATION

• Contemporary Malaysian Law is a hybrid law, (British Law,

Islamic and Customary laws).

• Customary law – Malay customs/traditions such as Adat

Pepatih/Adat Temenggung.

• Islamic laws were in actuality a hybrid, a blend of Islamic,

customary, and Hindu laws.

• When the British took over, Islamic law was referred just for

religious aspects of life.

• English law replaced Islamic and Malay customary law in

many matters. This even resulted in the power of the Syariah

Court being restricted and made ‘inferior’ to the civil courts.

• Today, the judiciary is exclusively made up by Malaysians.

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