Arbitration Act 2005 s 18
s 18 Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on its jurisdiction
(1) The arbitral tribunal may rule on its own jurisdiction, including any objections with respect to the existence or validity of the arbitration agreement.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)—
(a) an arbitration clause which forms part of an agreement shall be treated as an agreement independent of the other terms of the agreement; and
(b) a decision by the arbitral tribunal that the agreement is null and void shall not ipso jure entail the invalidity of the arbitration clause.
(3) A plea that the arbitral tribunal does not have jurisdiction shall be raised not later than the submission of the statement of defence.
(4) A party is not precluded from raising a plea under subsection (3) by reason of that party having appointed or participated in the appointment of the arbitrator.
(5) A plea that the arbitral tribunal is exceeding the scope of its authority shall be raised as soon as the matter alleged to be beyond the scope of its authority is raised during the arbitral proceedings.
(6) Notwithstanding subsections (3) and (5), the arbitral tribunal may admit such plea if it considers the delay justified.
(7) The arbitral tribunal may rule on a plea referred to in subsection
(3) or (5), either as a preliminary question or in an award on the merits.
(8) Where the arbitral tribunal rules on such a plea as a preliminary question that it has jurisdiction, any party may, within thirty days after having received notice of that ruling appeal to the High Court to decide the matter.
(9) While an appeal is pending, the arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.
(10) No appeal shall lie against the decision of the High Court under subsection (8).
Malay text (authoritative)
Kewibawaan tribunal timbang tara untuk membuat keputusan mengenai bidang kuasanya
(1) Tribunal timbang tara boleh membuat keputusan mengenai bidang kuasanya sendiri, termasuk apa-apa bantahan mengenai kewujudan atau kesahan perjanjian timbang tara.
(2) Bagi maksud subseksyen (1)—
(a) suatu fasal timbang tara yang menjadi sebahagian daripada suatu perjanjian hendaklah dikira sebagai suatu perjanjian yang bebas daripada terma lain perjanjian itu; dan
(b) suatu keputusan oleh tribunal timbang tara bahawa perjanjian itu adalah batal dan tidak sah tidak ipso jure menyebabkan ketidaksahan fasal timbang tara itu.
(3) Suatu pli bahawa tribunal timbang tara itu tidak mempunyai bidang kuasa hendaklah dibangkitkan tidak lewat daripada pengemukaan pernyataan pembelaan.
(4) Suatu pihak tidak terhalang daripada membangkitkan pli di bawah subseksyen (3) oleh sebab pihak itu telah dilantik atau mengambil bahagian dalam pelantikan penimbang tara.
(5) Suatu pli bahawa tribunal timbang tara melebihi ruang lingkup kuasanya hendaklah dibangkitkan sebaik sahaja perkara yang dikatakan melebihi ruang lingkup kuasanya itu dibangkitkan semasa prosiding timbang tara.
(6) Walau apa pun subseksyen (3) dan (5), tribunal timbang tara boleh menerima masuk pli itu jika tribunal timbang tara itu berpendapat kelengahan itu wajar.
(7) Tribunal timbang tara itu boleh membuat keputusan atas pli yang disebut dalam subseksyen (3) atau (5), sama ada sebagai suatu persoalan permulaan atau dalam suatu award mengikut merit.
(8) Jika tribunal timbang tara membuat keputusan atas pli itu sebagai suatu persoalan permulaan bahawa ia mempunyai bidang kuasa, mana-mana pihak boleh, dalam masa tiga puluh hari selepas menerima notis keputusan itu merayu kepada Mahkamah Tinggi untuk memutuskan perkara itu.
(9) Sementara rayuan belum selesai, tribunal timbang tara boleh meneruskan prosiding timbang tara dan membuat suatu award.
(10) Tiada rayuan boleh dibuat terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi di bawah subseksyen (8).
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Find Act 646 on lom.agc.gov.my ↗
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).
