Evidence Act 1950 s 54
s 54 Previous bad character not relevant except in reply
(1) In criminal proceedings the fact that the accused person has a bad character is irrelevant, unless evidence has been given that he has a good character, in which case it becomes relevant.
(2) A person charged and called as a witness shall not be asked, and if asked shall not be required to answer, any question tending to show that he has committed, or been convicted of or been charged with, any offence other than that wherewith he is then charged, or is of bad character, unless—
(a) the proof that he has committed or been convicted of that other offence is admissible evidence to show that he is guilty of the offence wherewith he is then charged;
(b) he has personally or by his advocate asked questions of the witnesses for the prosecution with a view to establish his own good character, or has given evidence of his good character, or the nature or conduct of the defence is such as to involve imputations on the character of the prosecutor or the witnesses for the prosecution; or
(c) he has given evidence against any other person charged with the same offence. Explanation 1—This section does not apply to cases in which the bad character of any person is itself a fact in issue.
Explanation 2—A previous conviction is relevant as evidence of bad character.
Malay text (authoritative)
Watak buruk dahulu tidaklah berkaitan kecuali bagi menjawab
(1) Dalam prosiding jenayah, fakta bahawa orang tertuduh itu berwatak buruk tidaklah berkaitan, melainkan jika keterangan telah diberikan bahawa dia berwatak baik, dan dalam hal yang demikian fakta itu menjadi berkaitan.
(2) Seorang yang dipertuduh dan dipanggil sebagai saksi tidak boleh ditanya, dan jika ditanya tidak dikehendaki menjawab, apa-apa soalan yang cenderung menunjukkan bahawa dia telah melakukan, atau telah disabitkan atau dipertuduh atas apa-apa kesalahan selain kesalahan yang dia dipertuduh pada masa itu, atau adalah berwatak buruk melainkan jika—
(a) bukti bahawa dia telah melakukan atau disabitkan atas kesalahan lain itu, ialah keterangan boleh terima bagi menunjukkan bahawa dia melakukan kesalahan yang dia dipertuduh pada masa itu;
(b) dia sendiri atau melalui peguam belanya telah menyoal saksi bagi pihak pendakwa dengan tujuan hendak membuktikan watak baiknya sendiri, atau telah memberikan keterangan mengenai watak baiknya, atau keadaan atau penjalanan pembelaan adalah sebegitu hingga melibatkan tohmahan atas watak pendakwa atau saksi bagi pihak pendakwa; atau
(c) dia telah memberikan keterangan terhadap mana-mana orang lain yang dipertuduh atas kesalahan yang sama.
Huraian 1—Seksyen ini tidak terpakai bagi kes yang dalamnya watak buruk mana-mana orang adalah dengan sendirinya suatu fakta persoalan.
Huraian 2— Sesuatu sabitan yang dahulu adalah berkaitan sebagai keterangan mengenai watak buruk.
Read this section in the full act → · Open Chapter II →
Find Act 56 on lom.agc.gov.my ↗
Text as at 1 May 2017 (LOM reprint); amendments made after that date may not be incorporated.
Source: Laws of Malaysia, Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia (lom.agc.gov.my). Not a copy of the Gazette printed by the Government Printer (Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967, s 61).
