Pendakwa Raya v PHRUEKSA TAEMCHIM (05(RJ)-7-11/2024(W))

I have had the benefit of reading the draft judgment by my learned brother, Che Mohd. Ruzima Bin Ghazali JCA and I am in complete agreement with the reasoning of His Lordship.

Having said that, I am of the view that the door is not closed for the Respondents even after the decision of this Court. In short, it is not the end of the road for the Respondents. The Respondents are at liberty to file fresh petitions pursuant to Regulations 54 and 113 of the Prison Regulations 2000, seeking leave from the respective Pardons Boards to reconsider the date of commencement of the imprisonment in line with the decision of the Pulau Pinang Pardons Board dated 27.1.2025 in the case of Ang Kok San.

The relevant part of the order made by the Pulau Pinang Pardons Board states as follows: DAN BAHAWASANYA, pada 19 Jun 2024, peguam banduan iaitu Tetuan Ling Yoke Hooi telah mengemukakan petisyen rayuan pengampunan bagi pihak banduan kepada Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Petua Negeri Pulau Pinang di bawah Peraturan 113 Peraturan-Peraturan Penjara 2000 yang pertama bagi banduan. Dalam petisyen tersebut, pempetisyen memohon belas ihsan Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Petua Negeri Pulau Pinang agar penjara seumur hidup yang dikenakan ke atasnya bermula dari tarikh tangkap iaitu pada 15 Mac 2006.

The petition was considered positively by the Pulau Pinang Pardons Board.

It is my considered opinion that the power to reconsider their own orders is exclusively the prerogative of the Pardons Board. In exercise of this power, the Pardons Board, as in Ang Kok San, can revisit the commencement date of the imprisonment imposed and such decision is not justiciable.

From this perspective, the Respondents could not be said to be prejudiced as there are other avenues available to them, which they could still explore. Sgd (WAN AHMAD FARID BIN WAN SALLEH) Chief Justice of Malaysia Federal Court Dated: 12 November 2025