Professional Summary

Dato’ Rajpal Singh has more than 30 years of experience in criminal litigation, appearing at every level of the Malaysian courts, including the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Subordinate Courts. His practice encompasses offences under the Penal Code, commercial and financial crime, corruption, anti-money laundering matters and proceedings involving the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN). Earlier in his career, he also practised in civil litigation, conveyancing and corporate matters.

Beyond his advocacy practice, Dato’ Rajpal has contributed extensively to law reform in Malaysia. He has served on select committees and contributed to initiatives concerning the establishment of a Sentencing Council and proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Penal Code, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) and Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

Dato’ Rajpal has also authored papers and proposals for the Malaysian Bar on matters of public and institutional importance, including the separation of the offices and powers of the Public Prosecutor and the Attorney General. In 2016, while serving as Co-Chair of the Malaysian Bar’s Law Reform Committee, he produced A Paper on MACC Reforms in Malaysia. He has also moderated programmes at the International Malaysia Law Conference on several occasions.

Areas of Practice

Dato’ Rajpal Singh has represented clients in criminal matters including, among others:

Financial, Corporate & Regulatory

  • Anti-Money Laundering (AMLA)
  • White-collar crime and corporate criminal advisory
  • Securities and money markets
  • Corruption and fraud
  • Securities Commission (SC) matters
  • Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) matters

Serious & Capital Offences

  • Drug offences
  • Murder
  • Firearms
  • Terrorism
  • Kidnapping
  • Human trafficking

Public Order & National Security

  • Preventive detention
  • Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA)
  • Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA)
  • Prevention of Crime Act (POCA) and related detention laws

Statutory & Specialised Offences

  • Environmental offences
  • Immigration offences
  • Penal Code offences
  • Other statutory offences

Court & Case Progression

  • Trials and appeals at all levels of the Malaysian courts

Qualifications

  1. LLB (Hons), Polytechnic of North London (1991)
  2. Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP), Universiti Malaya (1992)
  3. Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya (1993)

Leadership & Appointments

Malaysian Bar Council

  • Deputy Chair, Criminal Law Committee (2008, 2015)
  • Chair, Criminal Law Committee (2009–2014)
  • Co-Chair, Law Reform Committee (2016)
  • Deputy Co-Chair, National Legal Aid Committee (2017–2019)
  • Co-Chair, Yayasan Bantuan Guaman Kebangsaan (YBGK) (2020–2023)
  • Member, Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board appointed by the Chief Judge of Malaysia (2021–2025)
  • Co-Chair, National Legal Aid Committee (2022–2023)
  • Member, Legal Committee, Council of Datuk Dato' Malaysia (2023–2026)
  • Member, Bar Council of Malaysia (2025–2026)
  • Co-Chair, Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) & Police Accountability Committee (2025–2026)
  • Chairperson, Ad-Hoc Special Committee on Death Penalty (2026)

Selangor Bar

  • Chair, Selangor Bar Committee (2008–2011)
  • Selangor Bar Representative (2012–2016)
  • Co-Editor, Ad-Rem Magazine (2018–2021)
  • Selangor Bar Representative (2025–2026)

Community & Religious Leadership

  • President, The Sikh Temple Sentul (2018–2026)
  • Vice President, Tokoh-Tokoh Punjabi (2019–2024)
  • Vice President, Malaysian Gurdwara Council (2022–2026)
  • Chairman, Taman Kaya Residents Association (2022–2026)
  • President, Tokoh-Tokoh Punjabi (2024–2026)

Reported Cases

The following are among cases handled that have been reported in legal journals.

High Court 29 cases
  1. Pendakwa Raya v Maizatul Azwa Bt Mohamad Nasib Dan Lain-Lain Kes [2025] MLJU 1826
  2. Pendakwa Raya v Latif Ma Dan Lain-Lain [2025] MLJU 2940
  3. PP v. Ngoforo Ebube Gospel & Yang Lain [2024] CLJU 3144
  4. PP v Shah Nasir Hussian [2024] CLJU 2715
  5. PP v Sua Lay & Anor [2023] 1 LNS 1767
  6. Tanasilan v PP & Ors [2023] 1 LNS 872 (also heard at Federal Court level)
  7. PP v. Oon Kim Loon [2022] 1 LNS 3001
  8. PP v. Lim Kent Soon & Anor [2022] 1 LNS 3029
  9. Md Nasir Uddin v. PP [2021] 6 CLJ 105
  10. PP v Satvender Singh a/l Pirthpal Singh [2021] 1 LNS 2624
  11. PP v Mhageswaran Muthu [2020] 1 LNS 1711
  12. Yong Choo Kiong v PP [2020] 1 LNS 1307
  13. PP v Nwanko Francis Okechukcu [2020] 1 LNS 153
  14. PP v Lau Poh Ann [2018] 1 LNS 224
  15. PP v Hari Singh Kanda Simseer Singh [2017] 1 LNS 1094
  16. PP v Phan Thi Hao (W/Vietnam) [2017] 1 LNS 1094
  17. Nene Aminata Balady Diallo (W/Guinee) v PP [2017] 1 LNS 64
  18. Thanabalan Ramasamy v PP [2016] 1 LNS 1489
  19. PP v Cheh Chun Nam [2015] 1 LNS 847
  20. PP v Stephen Kingsley Okwuchukwu [2013] 1 LNS 1457
  21. PP v Gunalan Ramar [2012] 9 CLJ 540
  22. PP v Tan Kim Lye & Anor [2012] 1 LNS 312
  23. PP v Muhammad Hanif Siddiqui [2011] 1 LNS 1983
  24. PP v Bijayakumar Kumara Guru & Anor [2012] 7 CLJ 862
  25. PP v Nagalingam S Fathinathan [2009] 8 CLJ 582
  26. Saidul Bahari Hassan & Anor v PP [2008] 1 LNS 666
  27. PP v Thayalan Maniam [2007] 2 CLJ 185
  28. PP v Iskandar Mohamad Yusof [2006] 6 CLJ 379
  29. PP v Mohd Khalid Abd Rahman & 4 Ors [2004] 1 LNS 578
Court of Appeal 37 cases
  1. Sua Lay v PP & Satu Lagi Rayuan [2025] CLJU 828
  2. Satvender Singh Pirthpar Singh v. PP & Another Appeal [2024] 6 CLJ 18
  3. Yong Choo Kiong v. PP [2024] 5 CLJ 69
  4. Ithisham Noor Elahi v. PP [2024] CLJU 123
  5. Rames Bathumalai v PP [2023] 1 LNS 148
  6. Neelamegan Kumar & Yang Lain v PP [2023] 1 LNS 2342
  7. Masih Perviaz v PP [2022] 3 CLJ 230
  8. Iskandar Zulkurnain Zolkifly v PP [2022] 1 LNS 127
  9. Ejike Paulinus Chimeze [2020] 1 LNS 1665
  10. PP v Hadi Bakshi Kheimeisari Aliasghar [2020] 1 LNS 1683
  11. PP v Andrew Tan Jun Yee [2020] 1 LNS 1790
  12. Tan Kok Leong v PP & Anor Appeal [2020] 10 CLJ 58
  13. Yong Choo Kiong v PP [2020] 1 LNS 1307
  14. Khalid Mehmooh v PP & Anor Appeal [2020] 1 CLJ 683
  15. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan [2020] 6 CLJ 187
  16. Aingaran Muniandy v PP & Other Appeals [2020] 2 CLJ 581
  17. Syed Mazhar Ali v PP [2019] 1 LNS 1485
  18. Pubalan Peremal v PP [2018] 1 LNS 675
  19. PP v Muniandy Ramakrishnan & Anor [2018] 1 LNS 508
  20. Azwan Abd Rahman v P & Anor Appeal [2018] 1 LNS 508
  21. Selva Kumar Suparmaniam v PP & Anor Appeal [2018] 1 LNS 246
  22. PP v Karan Ilyas Muhammad Ilyas [2018] 1 LNS 51
  23. Muhammad Razzaq Bashir Ahmed v PP [2017] 1 LNS 1802
  24. Lokasvaran Ramasamy v PP & Anor [2016] 1 LNS 422
  25. Ediawe Eshilama Clinton v PP [2015] 9 CLJ 169
  26. Abdol Rahim Zamani Mohammad Ali v PP [2015] 8 CLJ 990
  27. PP v Nadaraja Rajoo [2015] 3 CLJ 37
  28. Muhammad Zikry K Suresh bin Abdullah dan satu lagi lwn Pendakwa Raya [2015] 2 MLJ 197
  29. Stephen Kingsley Okwuchukwu v PP [2014] 1 LNS 148
  30. Ramesh Doraisamy v PP [2014] 1 LNS 735
  31. Ambiya Mohamad & Ors v PP [2014] 4 CLJ 653
  32. PP v Thenegaran & Anor Appeal [2013] 4 CLJ 364
  33. PP v Karpal Singh Ram Singh [2012] 5 CLJ 580
  34. Selvam a/l Arjunan v Public Prosecutor [2012] 4 MLJ 755
  35. Athiseshan Singaram v PP [2011] 1 LNS 1301
  36. PP v Manimaran Manickam [2011] 8 CLJ 439
  37. Allaggandiran Vellu v PP [2010] 4 CLJ 410
Federal Court 9 cases
  1. Yong Choo Kiong V Public Prosecutor [2025] 6 MLJ 830
  2. Satvender Singh Pirthpar Singh v. PP & Another Appeal [Rayuan Jenayah No.: 05(L)-134-12/2023]
  3. Suthakar Sivakumar v PP & Rayuan Yang Lain [2024] 10 CLJ 335
  4. PP v Poon Wai Hong [Rayuan Jenayah No.: 05(L)-209-09/2019(B)]
  5. PP v Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan [Rayuan Jenayah No.: 05(LB)-193-08/2019(B)]
  6. Koh Chin Wah v PP [Rayuan Jenayah No.: 07-13-11/2019(W)]
  7. Alma Nudo Altenza [2019] 3 MLJU 28
  8. Hari Bhadur Ghale v PP [2012] 7 CLJ 789
  9. PP v Dinesh Madhavan [2010] 5 CLJ 635

In the Press

Selected press coverage featuring Dato' Rajpal Singh.

View all in Media Room (35)