LLB102B Law of Contract B Assignment Brief 2026 | Help University

LLB102B Assignment Brief

“The High Court in the case of Perlis Plantations Bhd v Mohammad Abdullah Ang [[1988] 1 CLJ 670] had clearly stated that our Contracts Act 1950 does not provide for any form of coercion other than as defined by section 15. Under section 15, commercial pressure and the presence of the above factors are insufficient to constitute coercion. The alleged act by the defendant must be forbidden by the Penal Code.”

Syed Ahmad Alsagoff, Principles of the Law of Contract in Malaysia (5th edn, Lexis Nexis 2023) 383.

With reference to English legal authorities, discuss the concept of ‘economic duress’ in

English contract law, and whether such a concept has been officially recognised in Malaysia. If it has not, analyse if Malaysian contract law should be reformed to adopt the English concept of ‘economic duress’, and if so, what form it should take under Malaysian contract law.

Course Learning Outcome 1:  Analyse complex legal principles, concepts and doctrines pertaining to the law of contract.

General Expectation:

Students are expected to conduct extensive research by employing both traditional and modern research methodologies. In producing a good assignment, students are advised  to pay particular attention to the content of the essay, originality and creative thought, style, and presentation of the essay, referencing and acknowledgement of sources.  Students should not feel restricted to the mentioned books and articles and are encouraged to seek articles from the internet and the law journals, provided due acknowledgment is given.

Specific Expectation:

This assignment is designed to test the students’ understanding of ‘economic duress’ in English contract law and whether it has potential as a vitiating factor in Malaysia. In attempting this question, students are expected to:

• Discuss the concept of ‘economic duress’ in English contract law, with reference to cases, and whether such a concept has been granted official recognition in Malaysia, also with reference to cases;
• Analyse if Malaysian contract law should follow English legal principles on economic duress, considering the realities of commercial legal relations in modern day Malaysia; and
• Suggest/propose reforms (if any), to the doctrine if adopted officially in Malaysia.

Compulsory Reading:

1. Syed Ahmad Alsagoff, Principles of the Law of Contract in Malaysia (5th edn, Lexis Nexis 2023)

2. Richard Stone and James Deveney, The Modern Law of Contract (14th edn, Routledge 2022)

3. The Contracts Act 1950

4. Relevant cases under these chapters

Recommended Reading:

1. Cheong May Fong, Contract Law in Malaysia (Sweet & Maxwell 2010)

2. Visu Sinnadurai and Low Weng Tchung, Sinnadurai Law of Contract (5th edn, LexisNexis 2023)

3. Ewan McKendrick, Contract Law Text, Cases and Materials (10th edn, OUP 2022)