Private Nuisance in Malaysia
LAWT3314
Student: Lu Wei Ann (SCSWK2200271)
Lecturer: Miss, Liew Pei Chin
What is Private Nuisance?
Public = Private Nuisance
Public nuisance:
General public / a large group.
o blocking public roads
o large-scale pollution
• Burden of proof.
Private nuisance: Disturbs
--use or enjoyment of their land.
• loud noises, bad smells,
pollution, vibrations.
• Civil wrong – ACTIONABLE!!!!!
• Sturges v Bridgman (1879)
• Sheikh Amir bin Salleh v Chop
Hup Seng (1974)
Private Nuisance in Malaysia:
• Follows English common law
oSection 3 of the Civil Law Act
1956.
• Also supported by Malaysian
statutes:
• Environmental Quality Act 1974
• Local Government Act 1976
Malaysian courts:
• statutory authority
o Woon Tan Kan v Asian Rare Earth
• awarding damages
o Miller v Jackson (1977
• public interest and urban
development
o UDA Holdings v Koperasi Pasaraya
Malaysia [2009]
Scenario
Alex's Situation
• Lives in an apartment.
• Garbage collected noisily every night
(2–3 AM).
• Loud noises from workers and
garbage trucks.
• Strong, unbearable stench from
improper waste handling.
Application to Alex’s Scenario
MORE LIKELY THAN NOT
• Substantial
• Unreasonable
• Has caused him damage
1. Interference with Property
sleep and comfort are disturbed
• loud noise & foul smells (every night)
• Sheikh Amir bin Salleh v Chop Hup Seng [1974] 2 MLJ 125
• Au Kean Hoe v Persatuan Penduduk D’villa Equestrian
[2015] 4 MLJ 204 FC
2. Unreasonable Interference
• unreasonable hours (2–3 AM)
• loud crashing sounds & a strong smell.
• Ong Koh Hou v Perbadanan Bandar & Anor [2009] 8 MLJ 616
• Projek Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan v Kim Seng Enterprise
[2013] 5 MLJ 360
3. Damage
• prove actual damage
• Alex:
• health problems, stress, and difficulty concentrating
• due to ongoing sleep disturbance.
• Chin Lih Lih & Ors v Sunrise Alliance Sdn Bhd & Anor [2011] MLJU
1437
• Halsey v Esso Petroleum (1961)
Remedies Available to Alex
1. Injunction
stop
limit the disturbance.
Kennaway v Thompson (1981)
COMPENSATION HEALTH PROBLEMS STRESS &
INCONVENIENCE
2. Damages :
LOSS OF SLEEP AND HALSEY V ESSO
REDUCED QUALITY OF PETROLEUM (1961)
LIFE
3. Complaint to Authorities
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
1976 -SECTION 72 ACT 1974 - SECTION 21
Defences - Defendant
• May argue that
• 1️⃣ Statutory Authority
• If the garbage collection schedule is mandated by local
regulations.
• Woon Tan Kan v Asian Rare Earth:
• Statutory approval sometimes weighs in defence.
2️⃣ Prescription
D - may claim
ong period (usually 20 years) without complaint
thus acquiring a right to continue.
3️⃣ Coming to the Nuisance
D – may argue
plaintiff moved to the location knowing about the existing
nuisance.
4️⃣Reasonable Use
D – may argue
actions are a reasonable use of their property.
It is up to the court to decide - defenses raised by D are valid
• Au Kean Hoe v Persatuan • Projek Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan
Penduduk D’villa Equestrian (2015) v Kim Seng Enterprise (2013)
• The court considered: • The court considered:
• whether the interference significantly • whether the interference was
impacted the plaintiff's comfort and reasonable given the circumstances.
convenience.
Thank u !!!!!
Bibliography
• Sturges v Bridgman [1879] 11 Ch D 852
• Sheikh Amir bin Salleh v Chop Hup Seng [1974] 2 MLJ 125.
• Kennaway v Thompson [1981] QB 88
• Halsey v Esso Petroleum [1961] 2 All ER 145
• Miller v Jackson [1977] 1 QB 966
• Woon Tan Kan v Asian Rare Earth Sdn Bhd [1992] 4 CLJ 2207
• UDA Holdings Bhd v Koperasi Pasaraya Malaysia Bhd [2009] 1 MLJ 1
• Ong Koh Hou v Perbadanan Bandar & Anor [2009] 8 MLJ 616.
• Projek Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan Sdn Bhd v Kim Seng Enterprise (Kedah) Sdn Bhd [2013] 5 MLJ 360.
• Au Kean Hoe v Persatuan Penduduk D’villa Equestrian [2015] 4 MLJ 204 FC.
• Chin Lih Lih & Ors v Sunrise Alliance Sdn Bhd & Anor [2011] MLJU 1437
• Thomas Philip Advocates and Solicitors, 2025. Saving Private Nuisance. [online] Available
at: [Link]
• Lecturer’s note [Liew Pei Chin] (2025) ‘Private Nuisance’, LAWT3314: Law of Tort 2, [Segi College]
• Tuitt, P., Bermingham, V. and McLaughlin, M. (2015) Tort Law. London: University of London.
• Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127). Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171). LawTeacher.
November 2013. Private Nuisance. [online]. Available from: [Link]
essays/land-law/[Link]?vref=1
• Civil Law Act 1956 (Act 67)
• Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127)
• Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171)
