Key points
- Court documents are often in Bahasa Melayu. Keep this list handy.
- Some terms differ between civil and Syariah courts (for example, matrimonial assets and harta sepencarian).
- Meanings here are simplified. Ask a lawyer about your particular case.
How to use this glossary
Court documents and forms in Malaysia are often in Bahasa Melayu, the national language and the main language of the courts, with English also used. This list pairs common English legal terms with their usual Bahasa Melayu equivalent, with a short plain-language meaning. Meanings are simplified. The exact legal meaning depends on the particular law and the facts.
Terms A to Z (grouped by topic)
| English | Bahasa Melayu | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Act | Akta | A law passed by Parliament. |
| Federal Constitution | Perlembagaan Persekutuan | The supreme law of Malaysia. Any law inconsistent with it is void to that extent. |
| Attorney General | Peguam Negara | The Government's chief legal adviser, who is also the Public Prosecutor. |
| Public Prosecutor | Pendakwa Raya | The authority that decides whether to charge someone and conducts criminal prosecutions. |
| Federal Court | Mahkamah Persekutuan | Malaysia's highest court. |
| Court of Appeal | Mahkamah Rayuan | Hears appeals mainly from the High Courts. |
| High Court | Mahkamah Tinggi | Hears serious criminal cases, large civil claims, probate and appeals from lower courts. |
| Sessions Court | Mahkamah Sesyen | A subordinate court for mid-level civil claims and most criminal offences. |
| Magistrates' Court | Mahkamah Majistret | The lowest court, for smaller claims, minor offences and remand applications. |
| Syariah Court | Mahkamah Syariah | State courts that apply Islamic law to Muslims in family, inheritance and some criminal matters. |
| Tribunal | Tribunal | A specialised body that decides certain disputes more cheaply and informally than a court. |
| Industrial Court | Mahkamah Perusahaan | Decides unfair dismissal and trade disputes under the Industrial Relations Act 1967. |
| Jurisdiction | Bidang kuasa | The power of a court or tribunal to hear a particular type or size of case. |
| Lawyer (advocate and solicitor) | Peguam (peguam bela dan peguam cara) | A person admitted to practise law in the civil courts. |
| Syarie lawyer | Peguam syarie | A lawyer admitted to appear in the Syariah courts. |
| Legal aid | Bantuan guaman | Free or subsidised legal advice and representation. |
| Police report | Laporan polis | A formal report of an incident or offence made to the police. |
| Investigation | Siasatan | The process of gathering evidence about a suspected offence. |
| Arrest | Tangkapan | Taking a person into custody because they are suspected of an offence. |
| Warrant | Waran | A written order from a court authorising an arrest, search or other action. |
| Seizable offence | Kesalahan boleh tangkap | An offence for which police may arrest without a warrant. |
| Remand | Reman | A magistrate's order allowing police to detain a suspect beyond 24 hours for investigation. |
| Statement | Percakapan / pernyataan | A written record of what a person told the police. |
| Charge | Pertuduhan | The formal accusation of an offence read out in court. |
| Accused | Tertuduh | A person charged with a criminal offence. |
| Plea | Akuan | The accused's answer to the charge: guilty, or claiming trial. |
| Plea bargaining | Tawar-menawar akuan | Agreement between the accused and the prosecutor on a charge or sentence, approved by the court. |
| Bail | Jaminan / ikat jamin | Release from custody pending trial, usually with money and a surety. |
| Surety | Penjamin | A person who promises the court that the accused will attend, and may forfeit money if they do not. |
| Trial | Perbicaraan | The court hearing at which evidence is presented and guilt is decided. |
| Prosecution | Pendakwaan | The side that brings the criminal case against the accused. |
| Defence | Pembelaan | The accused's answer to the case against them. |
| Witness | Saksi | A person who gives evidence. |
| Evidence | Keterangan | Testimony, documents and objects used to prove facts in court. |
| Cross-examination | Pemeriksaan balas | Questioning of a witness by the opposing side. |
| Prima facie case | Kes prima facie | Enough evidence that, if not answered, would justify a conviction. |
| Beyond reasonable doubt | Melampaui keraguan munasabah | The high standard of proof in criminal cases. |
| Balance of probabilities | Imbangan kebarangkalian | The civil standard of proof: more likely than not. |
| Acquittal | Pembebasan | A finding of not guilty, which ends the case. |
| Discharge not amounting to acquittal | Pelepasan tanpa pembebasan | Release without a verdict. The person may be charged again for the same offence. |
| Conviction | Sabitan | A finding of guilt by the court. |
| Sentence | Hukuman | The punishment imposed after conviction. |
| Mitigation | Rayuan peringanan hukuman | Reasons put forward to ask for a lighter sentence. |
| Fine | Denda | A sum of money paid as punishment. |
| Whipping | Sebatan | Caning ordered by a criminal court for certain offences. |
| Appeal | Rayuan | Asking a higher court to review a decision. |
| Plaintiff | Plaintif | The person who starts a civil lawsuit. |
| Defendant | Defendan | The person being sued, or (in criminal cases) charged. |
| Writ | Writ | A court document used to start many civil claims. |
| Statement of claim | Pernyataan tuntutan | The document setting out what the plaintiff claims and why. |
| Affidavit | Afidavit | A written statement of facts sworn or affirmed as true. |
| Summons | Saman | A document requiring a person to attend court. |
| Judgment | Penghakiman | The court's decision in a case. |
| Injunction | Injunksi | A court order to do, or stop doing, something. |
| Damages | Ganti rugi | Money awarded as compensation for loss. |
| Costs | Kos | Legal costs one side may be ordered to pay the other. |
| Limitation period | Had masa | The deadline for starting a legal claim. |
| Enforcement / execution | Penguatkuasaan / pelaksanaan | Steps to make the losing party comply with a judgment. |
| Bailiff | Bailif | A court officer who serves documents and carries out seizures and evictions. |
| Bankruptcy | Kebankrapan | A court process where an individual who cannot pay debts has their affairs taken over by the Insolvency Director General. |
| Mediation | Pengantaraan | A neutral person helps the parties reach their own settlement. |
| Contract | Kontrak | A legally binding agreement. |
| Breach of contract | Pelanggaran kontrak | Failing to do what a contract requires. |
| Negligence | Kecuaian | Failing to take reasonable care, causing harm to someone. |
| Tenancy agreement | Perjanjian sewa | The contract between landlord and tenant. |
| Landlord / Tenant | Tuan rumah / Penyewa | The owner who lets property, and the person who rents it. |
| Stamp duty | Duti setem | A tax on certain documents, such as tenancy agreements and property transfers. |
| Sale and purchase agreement | Perjanjian jual beli | The contract for buying property. |
| Defects liability period | Tempoh liabiliti kecacatan | The period during which a developer must repair defects. |
| Joint Management Body / Management Corporation | Badan Pengurusan Bersama / Perbadanan Pengurusan | The bodies that manage a strata development. |
| Consumer | Pengguna | A person who buys goods or services for personal or household use. |
| Guarantee (implied) | Gerenti tersirat | Promises the law builds into a consumer sale, such as acceptable quality. |
| Employer / Employee | Majikan / Pekerja | The parties to a contract of service. |
| Minimum wage | Gaji minimum | The lowest monthly wage an employer may lawfully pay. |
| Unfair dismissal | Pembuangan kerja tanpa sebab atau alasan yang adil | Dismissal without just cause or excuse. |
| Marriage / Divorce | Perkahwinan / Perceraian | The legal union, and its dissolution by the court. |
| Joint petition | Petisyen bersama | A divorce application made by both spouses together. |
| Marriage tribunal | Tribunal perkahwinan | A conciliation body that tries to reconcile non-Muslim couples before divorce. |
| Maintenance | Nafkah | Financial support for a spouse or children. |
| Custody | Hak jagaan | The right and duty to look after a child and make decisions about them. |
| Matrimonial assets / jointly acquired property | Aset perkahwinan / harta sepencarian | Property acquired during a marriage that may be divided on divorce (harta sepencarian is the term used in Syariah law). |
| Will | Wasiat | A document stating how a person's property is to be distributed after death. |
| Executor | Wasi / pelaksana wasiat | The person named in a will to carry it out. |
| Estate | Harta pusaka | Everything a deceased person owned, less debts. |
| Small estate | Harta pusaka kecil | An estate of up to RM5 million that can be distributed by the Land Administrator. |
| Intestate | Tidak berwasiat | Dying without a valid will. |
| Probate | Probet | A High Court grant confirming a will and the executor's authority. |
| Letters of administration | Surat kuasa mentadbir | A grant authorising an administrator to manage an estate where there is no will. |
| Faraid | Faraid | The Islamic law of inheritance that fixes heirs' shares. |
| Hibah | Hibah | A gift made during one's lifetime under Islamic law. |
Related pages
For how these terms fit together, see The legal system, The courts, The criminal process and The civil process.
Laws cited on this page
| Act 177 | Industrial Relations Act 1967 · Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967 (Terjemahan 1976) | Official text |
Listed automatically from the federal Acts named on this page. All laws of Malaysia →
This page explains the general position in Malaysia (last reviewed October 2026). It is not legal advice — check the current law and get advice on your own facts.
Sources
- Laws of Malaysia (official bilingual texts of Acts)
- Office of the Chief Registrar, Federal Court (Judiciary portal)
- Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (terms used)
Related
How Malaysian law worksCourts and their powersThe criminal process: from police report to verdictHow a civil case runsOfficial resources directory