Official Secrets Act 1972 s 16
s 16 Burden of proof and presumptions
In any prosecution for an offence under this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
(1) it shall not be necessary to show that the accused person was guilty of a particular act tending to show a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of Malaysia;
(2) notwithstanding that no act as stated in subsection (1) is proved against him, the accused person may be convicted if, from the circumstances of the case, his conduct or his known character as proved it appears that his purpose was a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of Malaysia; and
(3) if any documents, articles or information relating to or used in any prohibited place or anything in such a place, or any secret official code word, countersign or password, is made, obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated by any person other than a person acting under lawful authority, it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved, to have been made, obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of Malaysia.
Malay text (authoritative)
Beban pembuktian dan anggapan
Dalam sesuatu pendakwaan bagi sesuatu kesalahan di bawah Akta ini, melainkan jika konteksnya menghendaki makna yang lain—
(1) Tidaklah perlu ditunjukkan bahawa orang tertuduh itu telah bersalah atas sesuatu perbuatan tertentu yang mungkin menunjukkan sesuatu maksud yang memudaratkan keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia;
(2) Walaupun tiada apa-apa perbuatan sebagaimana yang dinyatakan dalam subseksyen (1) dibuktikan terhadapnya, orang tertuduh itu boleh disabitkan jika, dari hal keadaan kes itu, kelakuannya atau wataknya yang diketahui sebagaimana yang dibuktikan didapati bahawa maksudnya ialah suatu maksud yang memudaratkan keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia; dan
(3) Jika sesuatu dokumen, artikel atau maklumat yang berhubungan dengan atau digunakan di sesuatu tempat larangan atau apa-apa jua di tempat itu, atau apa-apa perkataan kod, isyarat timbal, atau kata laluan rasmi yang rahsia adalah dibuat, didapatkan, dikumpul, direkodkan, disiarkan atau disampaikan oleh seseorang selain seseorang yang bertindak di bawah kuasa yang sah, ia hendaklah dianggap sehingga dibuktikan sebaliknya, sebagai telah dibuat, didapatkan, dikumpul, direkodkan, disiarkan atau disampaikan bagi suatu maksud yang memudaratkan keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia.
Read this section in the full act →
Find Act 88 on lom.agc.gov.my ↗
Text as at 1 January 2006 (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).
