Akta Akuan Berkanun 1960
Applies to: Federal Act · Official text ↗
- Declarations may be taken by a Sessions Court Judge, Magistrate, Commissioner for Oaths, or a notary public (s 2).
- The declaration must be made voluntarily by any person (s 2).
- The declaration must be in Malay or English (s 2).
- The declaration must be in the form in the Schedule (s 2).
- Declarations made under this Act are deemed to be declarations referred to in sections 199 and 200 of the Penal Code (s 3).
What this law is
The Statutory Declarations Act 1960 (Akta Akuan Berkanun 1960) is numbered Act 783 in the Laws of Malaysia.
Its long title, as printed in the official text: An Act to provide for the making and taking of statutory declarations and for purposes connected with it and incidental to it.
Read every section, the amendment history and the official copy on our law library page for this Act.
Laws cited on this page
| Act 115 | Notaries Public Act 1959 Akta Notari Awam 1959 | PDF · PDF (BM) · Official ↗ |
| Act 574 | Penal Code Kanun Keseksaan Our guide → | PDF · Official ↗ |
| Act 783 | Statutory Declarations Act 1960 Akta Akuan Berkanun 1960 | PDF · PDF (BM) · Official ↗ |
Each law links to our mirror page: a copy of the official text captured on a known date, its version history, and the official source. Law library →
Key sections
| Provision | What it says, in plain words |
|---|---|
| s 2 | This section allows a Sessions Court Judge, Magistrate, Commissioner for Oaths, or a notary public to take a voluntary declaration from any person in Malay or English in the form in the Schedule. |
| s 3 | This section states that declarations made under this Act are deemed to be declarations referred to in sections 199 and 200 of the Penal Code. |
Worked examples
Facts. Ahmad wants to make a statutory declaration. He goes to a Magistrate.
The law. A Magistrate may take and receive the declaration of any person voluntarily making the declaration in Malay or English in the form in the Schedule (s 2).
Outcome. The Magistrate can take Ahmad's declaration if it is voluntary, in Malay or English, and in the form in the Schedule (s 2).
Facts. Siti makes a statutory declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths that contains a statement she knows is false.
The law. Declarations made under the Act are deemed to be declarations referred to in ss 199 and 200 of the Penal Code (s 3). Penal Code s 199 punishes a person who makes a false statement in such a declaration, touching a material point, as if he gave false evidence; s 200 punishes corruptly using such a declaration as true knowing it is false.
Outcome. Siti may be prosecuted under s 199 of the Penal Code and punished as if she had given false evidence (s 3 of this Act; Penal Code s 199).
Facts. Ravi wants to make a statutory declaration. He goes to a notary public appointed under the Notaries Public Act 1959.
The law. Subject to section 4 of the Notaries Public Act 1959, any notary public appointed under the Notaries Public Act 1959 may take and receive the declaration of any person voluntarily making the declaration in Malay or English in the form in the Schedule (s 2).
Outcome. The notary public can take Ravi's declaration if it is voluntary, in Malay or English, and in the form in the Schedule (s 2).
Examples are simplified illustrations with invented names; real cases turn on their own facts.
Questions & answers
Who can take my statutory declaration?
A Sessions Court Judge, Magistrate, Commissioner for Oaths, or a notary public appointed under the Notaries Public Act 1959 can take your declaration (s 2).
What language can I use for my declaration?
You can make your declaration in Malay or English (s 2).
What form must my declaration be in?
Your declaration must be in the form in the Schedule (s 2).
What happens if I make a false declaration?
A statutory declaration is deemed to be a declaration referred to in ss 199 and 200 of the Penal Code (s 3). Under Penal Code s 199, making a false statement in it on a material point, knowing or believing it false, is punished as if you had given false evidence; using such a declaration as true knowing it is false is punished the same way (Penal Code s 200).
Do I have to make the declaration voluntarily?
Yes, the declaration must be made voluntarily by any person (s 2).
All questions & answers → · Ask your own →