Malaysia legislation
Section 5
of Dewan Undangan Negeri (Privileges and Powers) Ordinance, 2007
Section 5
Dewan as a court of record
The Dewan sitting as a court shall have all such rights and privileges of a court of record, as may be necessary for the purpose of summarily enquiring into and punishing the acts, matters, and things made punishable as contempts under section 24.
Members and officers of Dewan exempted from serving as jurors or assessors or, when Dewan is sitting, to attend as witnesses in court 6.
No member or officer of the Dewan shall be required to serve on any jury or as assessor or, while in attendance on the Dewan, to attend as a witness in any civil proceedings in any court, unless that court holds its sittings at the seat of the Dewan. The certificate of the
Speaker shall be deemed sufficient proof of any such member’s or officer’s attendance in the Dewan.
Immunity of members from civil or criminal proceedings for anything done or said before the Dewan 7.
No member shall be liable to any civil or criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment, or damages by reason of any matter or thing which he may have brought by petition, bill, resolution, motion, or otherwise, or have said before the Dewan or any committee.
Freedom from arrest for civil debt during sitting of Dewan 8.
No member shall be liable to arrest for any civil debt except a debt the contraction of which constitutes a criminal offence, while going to, attending at, or returning from a sitting of the Dewan or any committee.
Execution of civil process 9.—
(1)
No process issued by any court in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction shall be served or executed within the precincts of the Dewan while the Dewan is sitting or through the Speaker, the
Secretary or any officer of the Dewan.
(2)
For the purpose of this section—
“civil jurisdiction” includes the exercise by the High Court under section 25(2) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 [Act 91]; and
9
“court” includes a Native Court constituted under the Native
Courts Ordinance, 1992 [Ord. No. 9/92] and a court presided over by an Election Judge appointed under the Election Offences Act 1954 [Act 5], or tribunal presided over by an Arbitrator appointed under any written law relating to arbitration in Malaysia.
Exemption from liability in damages for any act done under the authority of the Dewan 10.
No person shall be liable in damages or otherwise for any act done under the authority of the Dewan, and within its legal powers or under any warrant issued by virtue of those powers.