Section 7 — CIVIL LAW ACT 1956

(2)

Every such action shall be for the benefit of the wife, husband, parent, child and any person with disabilities under the care, if any, of the person whose death has been so caused and shall be brought by and in the name of the executor of the person deceased.

(3)

The damages which the party who shall be liable under subsection (1) to pay to the party for whom and for whose benefit the action is brought shall, subject to this section, be such as will compensate the party for whom and for whose benefit the action is brought for any loss of support suffered together with any reasonable expenses incurred as a result of the wrongful act, neglect or default of the party liable under subsection (1):

Provided that—

(i)

in assessing the damages there shall not be taken into account—

(a)

any sum paid or payable on the death of the person deceased under any contract of assurance or insurance, whether made before or after the coming into force of this Act;

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(b)

any sum payable, as a result of the death, under any written law relating to employees’ provident fund;

(c)

any pension or gratuity, which has been or will or may be paid as a result of the death; or

(d)

any sum which has been or will or may be paid under any written law relating to the payment of any benefit or compensation whatsoever, in respect of the death;

(ii)

damages may be awarded in respect of the funeral expenses of the person deceased if such expenses have been incurred by the party for whose benefit the action is brought;

(iii)

no damages shall be awarded to a parent on the ground only of his having been deprived of the services of a child; and no damages shall be awarded to a husband on the ground only of his having been deprived of the services or society of his wife; and

(iv)

in assessing the loss of earnings in respect of any period after the death of a person where such earnings provide for or contribute to the damages under this section the Court shall—

(a)

take into account that where the person deceased has attained the age of sixty years at the time of his death, his loss of earnings for any period after his death shall not be taken into consideration; and in the case of any other person deceased, his loss of earnings for any period after his death shall be taken into consideration if it is proved or admitted that the person deceased was receiving earnings by his own labour or other gainful activity prior to his death;

(b)

take into account only the amount relating to the earnings as aforesaid and the Court shall not take into account any prospect of the earnings as aforesaid being increased at any period after the person’s death;

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(c)

take into account any diminution of any such amount as aforesaid by such sum as is proved or admitted to be the living expenses of the person deceased at the time of his death;

(d)

take into account that in the case of a person who was of the age of thirty years and below at the time of his death, the number of years’ purchase shall be 16; and in the case of any other person who was of the age range extending between thirty one years and fifty-nine years at the time of his death, the number of years’ purchase shall be calculated by using the figure 60, minus the age of the person at the time of death and dividing the remainder by the figure 2.

(3A)

Any action under this section may consist of or include a claim for damages for bereavement and, subject to subsection (3D), the sum to be awarded as damages under this subsection shall be thirty thousand ringgit.

(3B)

A claim for damages for bereavement shall only be for the benefit of —

(a)

the spouse of the person deceased;

(b)

the child of the person deceased; and

(c)

the parents of the person deceased.

(3C)

Where there is a claim for damages under subsection (3B), the sum awarded shall be divided equally between them subject to any deduction likely to be made in respect of all costs and expenses including costs not recovered from the defendant.

(3D)

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may from time to time by order published in the Gazette vary the sum specified in subsection (3A).

(3E)

An order made under subsection (3D) shall be published in the

Gazette and as soon as possible thereafter, shall be laid before the

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Dewan Rakyat; and if the Dewan Rakyat passes a resolution annulling the order, it shall be void but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder or to the making of a new order as from the date of notification in the Gazette of the passing of the resolution.

(4)

The amount, other than the amount awarded under proviso (iii)

to subsection (3) and the amount recovered under subsection (3B), so recovered after deducting all costs and expenses, including the costs not recovered from the defendant, shall be divided amongst the before-mentioned parties, or any of them in such shares as the Court by its judgment or decree directs.

(5)

Not more than one action shall be brought for and in respect of the same subject matter of complaint, and every such action shall be brought within three years after the death of the person deceased.

(6)

In any such action the executor of the deceased may insert a claim for and recover any pecuniary loss to the estate of the deceased occasioned by the wrongful act, neglect, or default, which sum when recovered shall be deemed part of the assets of the estate of the deceased.

(7)

The plaint or writ or summons in any such action shall give full particulars of the person or persons for whom or on whose behalf the action is brought, and of the nature of the claim in respect of which damages are sought to be recovered.

(8)

If there is no executor of the person deceased or there being an executor no action as in this section mentioned has, within six calendar months after the death of the person deceased, been brought by the executor, the action may be brought by all or any of the persons, if more than one, for whose benefit the action would have been brought if it had been brought by the executor, and every action so to be brought shall be for the benefit of the same person or persons and shall be subject to the same procedure as nearly as may be as if it was brought by the executor.

(9)

It shall be sufficient for any defendant in any action brought under this section to pay any money, he is advised to pay into Court as a compensation, in one sum to all persons entitled under this section for his wrongful act, neglect or default without specifying the shares into which it is to be divided.

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(10)

If the said sum is not accepted and an issue is taken by the plaintiff as to its sufficiency and the Court thinks the same sufficient, the defendant shall be entitled to judgment upon that issue.

(11)

In this section unless the context otherwise requires—

“child” includes son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, stepson and stepdaughter;

“parent” includes father, mother, grandfather and grandmother;

“pension” includes a return of contributions and any payment of a lump sum in respect of a person’s employment:

Provided that in deducing any relationship referred to in this subsection any illegitimate person or any person who has been adopted, or whose adoption has been registered, in accordance with any written law shall be treated as being or as having been the legitimate offspring of his mother and reputed father or, as the case may be, of his adopters.

Effect of death on certain causes of action