Malaysia · Courts
Court structure of Malaysia
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate — Federal Court
- Apex court; hears constitutional references.
- Appellate — Court of Appeal
- Civil and criminal appeals from the High Courts.
- First instance — High Court in Malaya; High Court in Sabah and Sarawak
- Two separate High Courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
- First instance — Sessions and Magistrates' Courts
- Subordinate courts with monetary and sentencing limits.
- Religious — Syariah Courts
- State courts; exclusive jurisdiction over Muslims in listed matters under Article 121(1A).
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremePutrajayaFederal Court of MalaysiaFinal appeals from the Court of Appeal by leave, exclusive original jurisdiction over disputes between the Federation and the States and on the validity of federal or state law, and advisory jurisdiction on royal reference.
- appellatePutrajayaCourt of Appeal of MalaysiaAppeals from the High Courts in civil and criminal matters.
- specialisedState capitalsSyariah CourtsIslamic family law, inheritance and Syariah offences affecting Muslims, within the jurisdiction conferred by each State's enactment under item 1 of List II of the Ninth Schedule.
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