SAM KE TING v PENDAKWA RAYA [2023] 5 CLJ 704, [2023] 4 MLJ 650 : A CASE COMMENTARY

Muhammad Izwan Ikhsan; Daleleer Kaur Randawar; Akbar Kamarudin @ Abdul Shukor

doi:10.31436/iiumlj.v34i1.1190

Authors

Muhammad Izwan Ikhsan Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Sabah Branch, Kota Kinabalu Campus, Malaysia
Daleleer Kaur Randawar Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam Campus, Selangor, Malaysia
Akbar Kamarudin @ Abdul Shukor Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam Campus, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v34i1.1190

Keywords:

Basikal Lajak, Duplicity of Charge, Prima Facie, Juvenile Delinquency, Parental Liability, Neglect

Abstract

The "basikal lajak" case, or formally known as Sam Ke Ting v Pendakwa Raya [2023] 5 CLJ 704, 4 MLJ 650, attracted wide publicity in Malaysia. The appellant was initially acquitted by the Magistrate's Court, subsequently convicted by the High Court, and finally acquitted by the Court of Appeal for allegedly driving "recklessly or dangerously" following a collision with "basikal lajak" cyclists that resulted in eight fatalities. The Court of Appeal's judgment centred on two fundamental principles in the criminal justice system: the rule against duplicity of charge and the requirement of a prima facie case at the conclusion of the prosecution's case. Beyond the Court's decision, this commentary critically analyses the Court's reasoning and situates the case within broader socio-legal contexts, including juvenile delinquency, parental liability, and nighttime risks faced by minors.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Ab Aziz, Norjihan, and Noor Shuhadawati Mohamad Amin “Cyberbullying among Children: A Cross Jurisdictional Perspective.” IIUM Law Journal 28, no. 2 (2020): 325–349.

Adams, Kenneth “The Effectiveness of Juvenile Curfews at Crime Prevention.” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 587, no. 1 (2003): 136–159.

Ahmad, Janice, and James Ruiz “Juvenile Curfews: The Recent Increase of Their Use.” In Handbook of Juvenile Justice: Theory and Practice, edited by Barbara Sims and Pamela Preston, 275-293. Routledge, 2006.

Azizi, Nur Aqidah “Penalise Parents for Letting Children Go Out at Night Unattended, MCPF Tells Authorities.” New Straits Times, February 19, 2017. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/213779/penalise-parents-letting-children-go-out-night-unattended-mcpf-tells.

Azumah, Francess Dufie, John Onzaberigu Nachinaab, Samuel Krampah, and Pius Nzeh Ayim “Determinants of Target Victim Selection: A Case Study of Criminals from Gambaga Prisons.” Journal of Victimology and Victim Justice 3, no. 1 (2020) : 93-112.

“Basikal Lajak’: Parents Face RM1,000 Fine, Imprisonment – Wee.” Bernama, July 27, 2020. https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=1864828

Caplan, Aaron H. “Juvenile Curfews.” In The Encyclopaedia of Civil Liberties in America, edited by David Schultz, John R. Vile. Routledge, 2004.

Cheah, Chor Sooi “Should Parents of ‘Basikal Lajak’ Victims Be Jailed for Failing in Their Parental Duty?” Focus Malaysia, April 13, 2022. https://focusmalaysia.my/should-parents-of-basikal-lajak-victims-be-jailed-for-failing-in-their-parental-duty/

Children of Prisoners Europe. Children of Imprisoned Parents: An Invisible Population. Brussels: COPE, 2017.

“Dealing with Juvenile Delinquency: The Relevance of Icelandic Prevention Model to Malaysia.” International Journal of Law, Government and Communication 10 (41): 554-576.

“Towards a Children’s Curfew Law in Malaysia: An Exploration of Social Bond Theory and Parens Patriae Doctrine.” Asian Journal of Law and Governance 7 (3): 82–94.

Hamilton, Carolyn, and Elizabeth Yarrow “Preventing and Addressing Youth Offending: Restorative Justice and Family Focused Programming.” In Women and Children as Victims and Offenders, edited by Helmut Kury, Sławomir Redo, and Evelyn Shea, 301-339. Cham: Springer, 2016.

Hussain, Nasimah “Juvenile Delinquency in Malaysia: Legal Framework and Prospects for Reforms.” IIUM Law Journal 15, no. 2 (2007): 198–214.

Hussin, Zalmizy, and Siti Rohana Ahmad “Exploring Two Types of Aggressive Behavioural Risk Factors among Illegal Motorcycle Street Racers in Malaysia.” International Journal of Criminology and Sociology 10 (2021): 785-794.

Ikhsan, Muhammad Izwan, Daleleer Kaur Randawar, and Akbar Kamarudin@AbdulShukor. “Children’s Curfew Law in Malaysia: A Boon or a Bane?” Asian Journal of Law and Governance 7, no. 1(2025.): 54–64.

Iskandar, Ilyia Marsya, and Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi “2,880 Road Crashes Involved Children This Year, Including 714 Fatal Accidents.” New Straits Times, October 13, 2025 https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/10/1293945/2880-road-crashes-involved-children-year-including-714-fatal-accidents

Johnson, Vincent R., and Claire G. Hargrove “The Tort Duty of Parents to Protect Minor Children.” Villanova Law Review 51 (2006): 311–336.

Kenny, Sarah. Growing Up and Going Out: Youth Culture, Commerce, and Leisure Space in Post-War Britain. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2025.

Lim, Ida. “Lawyers: Prosecuting Parents over Children’s ‘Basikal Lajak’ Activities May Do More Harm than Good.” Malay Mail. April 23, 2022 https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/04/23/lawyers-prosecuting-parents-over-childrens-basikal-lajak-activities-may-do/2055150

Manaf, Mohamad Kamal Sodiqin Abdull “Comparative Analysis of International and Malaysian Legal Frameworks on the Treatment on Uncontrollable Children.” Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law 11, no. 1(2023): 1–13.

Mazlan, Norshamimi Mohd, and Aminuddin Mustaffa. “The Malaysian Juvenile Justice System: The Compelling Need to Implement Diversion in Handling the Issue of Juvenile Delinquency.” International Journal of Law, Policy and Social Review 4, no. 1(2022): 16–23.

Perimbanayagam, Kalbana, “Eight Children Die in Road Accidents Every Week, Data Shows,” New Straits Times, September 30, 2025 https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/09/1284289/eight-children-die-road-accidents-every-week-data-shows

Ramli, Nur Najaa Syairah Che “Inculcating Sense of Responsibility through Restorative Justice for Child Offender in Malaysia.” Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities 7, no. 2(2021): 13–19.

Randawar, Daleleer Kaur, Muhammad Izwan Ikhsan, Ahmad Ridhwan Abd Rani, Syuhaeda Aeni Mat Ali, and Shirin Shubashini Ramaiah "Prevention over Punishment: Restoring Hope through Malaysian Child Act 2001." International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science 9, no. 5(2025): 857-866.

Reed, Diane F., and Edward L. Reed “Children of Incarcerated Parents.” Social Justice 24, no. 39(1997): 152–169.

Shahril, Roziana, Amelia Hazreena Abdul Ghani, Maslina Musa, Low Suet Fin, and Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim, An Exploratory Study on Basikal Lajak Phenomenon in Hulu Langat District. Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, 2022.

Shahril, Roziana, Maslina Musa, and Amelia Hazreena Abdul Ghani. “Basikal Lajak: What You Need to Know.” Journal of Advanced Vehicle System 13, no. 2(2022): 1–7.

Smetana, Judith G. “It’s 10 O’Clock: Do You Know Where Your Children Are?” Child Development Perspectives 2, no. 1 (2008): 19–25.

Syed Nong, Shariffah Nuridah Aishah, Aminuddin Mustaffa, Nazli Ismail, Kamaliah Salleh, Naziree Yusof, and Badrol Awang. “Protection of Children beyond Control in the IR 4.0 Era: The Role of International Conventions.” UUM Journal of Legal Studies 11, no. 2 (2020): 77–96.

Windari, Rusmilawati, and Ermania Widjajanti “The Double Track System in Sentencing Juvenile Offenders in Indonesia: Strengths and

Weaknesses of the Juvenile Criminal Justice System Act 2012.” IIUM Law Journal 23, no. 3(2015): 501–524.

Yusoff, Jal Zabdi Mohd, and Sridevi Thambapillay. “Neglecting Child Neglect: Selected Legal Issues Encountered in Malaysia.” Asia Law Review 5, no. 1(2008): 119-134.