ISEAS Perspective - Legal Pluralism in Malaysia: Navigating the Civil and Shariah Systems

A general view of Malaysia’s High Court in Kuala Lumpur on 4 October 2019 | Picture by AFP/SADIQ ASYRAF.

In this paper published by NYSEAN Partner ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Shad Saleem Faruqi asserts that legal pluralism in Malaysia—rooted in its colonial history, ethnic diversity, religious diversity, and federal structure—challenges the ideal of a unified Rule of Law ("one law for all") and creates jurisdictional tensions between civil, Shariah, and native legal systems.

Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi is Visiting Senior Research Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and the former Tunku Abdul Rahman Chair, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.