Mahkamah is the general term for a judicial body that hears and decides disputes according to law. In Malaysia, the civil courts (federal) have five ascending levels: the Magistrates' Court, the Sessions Court, two coordinate High Courts (the High Court of Malaya, and the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak), the Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court as the highest court. Separate from these, the Syariah Courts — established by each state — have jurisdiction limited to Muslims and to specific matters only.
- Mahkamah is the general term for a judicial body; it is not the specific name of any single institution
- The federal civil courts have five levels: the Magistrates' Court, the Sessions Court (the subordinate courts), followed by the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court (the superior courts)
- Article 121 of the Federal Constitution establishes two High Courts of coordinate jurisdiction and status — the High Court of Malaya, and the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak
- The Federal Court is the highest and final court in the civil court hierarchy, according to the Judiciary's official portal
- The Syariah Courts are a separate system, established by state legislation (and federal law for the Federal Territories) — not a level within the civil court ladder
Who this applies to: Anyone reading legal documents, news or court proceedings in Malaysia who needs to understand what the term 'mahkamah' means and the relative standing of each level.
On this page
Bahasa Malaysia: Mahkamah · English: Court · 中文: 法院
“Mahkamah” is a word used widely — from a traffic summons slip to a Federal Court ruling that sets the law of the land. It is not the name of one institution, but an umbrella term for any body empowered to hear and decide cases according to law.
Two systems, not one ladder
Something that often causes confusion: Malaysia does not have one court hierarchy, but two separate systems running in parallel.
| System | Established by | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Civil courts | The Federal Constitution & federal law | General — everyone, all types of civil and criminal cases subject to their respective limits |
| Syariah Courts | State enactments (federal law for the Federal Territories) | Limited to Muslims and matters listed in the State List |
These two systems do not overlap in a single appeal ladder — an appeal from the Syariah Courts does not go up to the Court of Appeal or the Federal Court. See Syariah and Civil Courts and Syariah Courts for a full account of the dividing line.
Levels of the civil courts, in brief
According to the official portal of the Judiciary of Malaysia, the civil courts ascend in the following order, from subordinate to superior:
- Magistrates’ Court — the lowest level, hearing civil and criminal cases of smaller value/sentence.
- Sessions Court — the second subordinate court, with wider jurisdiction than the Magistrates’ Court.
- High Court — two coordinate courts under Article 121 of the Federal Constitution: the High Court of Malaya, and the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak.
- Court of Appeal — hears appeals from the High Court.
- Federal Court — the highest and final court.
The Magistrates’ Court and the Sessions Court are called the subordinate courts; the three levels above them are called the superior courts.
The actual monetary and sentencing jurisdiction limits for each level — including appeal limits in ringgit — are not explained here as they require a longer statutory account. Refer to Malaysia’s Court Hierarchy and Judiciary & Courts for the full figures and how judges are appointed.
What’s next
Sources
- Hierarki Mahkamah — Portal Rasmi Badan Kehakiman Malaysia — Badan Kehakiman Malaysia
- Perlembagaan Persekutuan (Perkara 121 — Mahkamah Persekutuan) — Jabatan Peguam Negara
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 24 Jul 2026 | Approved and published. | — |