JUDGMENT

Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal FCJ:

Introduction

[1] This appeal is directed against the decision of the Court of Appeal which had affirmed, by majority, the decision of the High Court of Penang. The appeal concerns an important aspect of the law on vicarious liability. Specifically, it raises the question of when can an employer be held liable for an intentional wrong committed by his employee where no fault can be attributed to the employer.

[2] The appeal was filed pursuant to the granting of leave on the following questions:

(i) Sama ada di dalam suatu tuntutan di bawah prinsip tanggungan liabiliti secara vikarius, adakah perlu untuk Mahkamah perbicaraan memutuskan terlebih dahulu sama ada perbuatan pekerja yang dinamakan adalah suatu perbuatan salah ataupun tidak? Sekiranya tidak ada apa-apa keputusan dibuat oleh Mahkamah perbicaraan berkenaan salah ataupun tidak perbuatan pekerja tersebut, bolehkah majikan dipertanggungjawabkan di bawah prinsip tanggungan liabiliti secara vikarius;