Malaysia legislation

Section 148

of CONTRACTS ACT 1950

Section 148

In selecting such an agent for his principal, an agent is bound to exercise the same amount of discretion as a man of ordinary prudence would exercise in his own case; and, if he does this, he is not responsible to the principal for the acts or negligence of the agent so selected.

(a)

A instructs B, a merchant, to buy a ship for him. B employs a ship surveyor of good reputation to choose a ship for A. The surveyor makes the choice negligently and the ship turns out to be unseaworthy and is lost. B is not, but the surveyor is, responsible to A.

Contracts 73

(b)

A consigns goods to B, a merchant for sale. B, in due course, employs an auctioneer in good credit to sell the goods of A, and allows the auctioneer to receive the proceeds of the sale. The auctioneer afterwards becomes insolvent without having accounted for the proceeds. B is not responsible to A for the proceeds.

Ratification

Right of person as to acts done for him without his authority.

Effect of ratification

Section 148 — CONTRACTS ACT 1950 | mylaw.my