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Contracts Act 1950 [Act 136]
48 Time and place for performance of promise where time is specified and no application to be made cite [+]
When a promise is to be performed on a certain day, and the promisor has undertaken to perform it without application by the promisee, the promisor may perform it at any time during the usual hours of business on the day and at the place at which the promise ought to be application performed.
ILLUSTRATION
A promises to deliver goods at B's warehouse on the 1st of January. On that day A brings the goods to B's warehouse, but after the usual hour for closing it, and they are not received. A has not performed his promise.
49 Application for performance on certain day to be at proper time and place cite [+]
When a promise is to be performed on a certain day, and the promisor has not undertaken to perform it without application by the promisee, it is the duty of the promisee to apply for performance at a proper place and within the hours of business.
Explanation- The question "what is a proper time and place" is, in each particular case, a question of fact. 50 Place for performance of promise where no application to be made and no place fixed cite [+]
When a promise is to be performed without application by the promisee, and no place is fixed for the performance of it, it is the duty of the promisor to apply to the promisee to appoint a reasonable place for the performance of the promise, and to perform it at that place.
ILLUSTRATION
A undertakes to deliver a thousand gantangs of rice to B on a fixed day. A must apply to B to appoint a reasonable place for the purpose of receiving it, and must deliver it to him at that place.
51 Performance in manner or at time prescribed or sanctioned by promisee cite [+]
The performance of any promise may be made in any manner, or at any time which the promisee prescribes or sanctions.
ILLUSTRATIONS
(a) B owes A RM2,000. A desires B to pay the amount to A's account with C, a banker. B, who also banks with C, orders the amount to be transferred from his account to A's credit, and this is done by C. Afterwards, and before A knows of the transfer, C fails. There has been a good payment by B.
(b) A and B are mutually indebted. A and B settle an account by setting off one item against another, and B pays A the balance found to be due from him upon such settlement. This amounts to a payment by A and B, respectively, of the sums which they owed to each other.
(c) A owes B RM2,000. B accepts some of A's goods in reduction of the debt. The delivery of the goods operates as a part payment.
(d) A desires B, who owes him RM100, to send him a note for RM100 by post. The debt is discharged as soon as B puts into the post a letter containing the note duly addressed to A.
Performance of Reciprocal Promises
52 Promisor not bound to perform unless reciprocal promisee ready and willing to perform cite [+]
When a contract consists of reciprocal promises to be simultaneously performed, no promisor need perform his promise unless the promisee is ready and willing to perform his reciprocal promise.
ILLUSTRATIONS
(a) A and B contract that A shall deliver goods to B to be paid for by B on delivery.
A need not deliver the goods unless B is ready and willing to pay for the goods on delivery.
B need not pay for the goods unless A is ready and willing to deliver them on payment.
(b) A and B contract that A shall deliver goods to B at a price to be paid by instalments, the first instalment to be paid on delivery.
A need not deliver unless B is ready and willing to pay the first instalment on delivery.
B need not pay the first instalment unless A is ready and willing to deliver the goods on payment of the first instalment.
53 Order of performance of reciprocal promises cite [+]
Where the order in which reciprocal promises are to be performed is expressly fixed by the contract, they shall be performed in that order; and, where the order is not expressly fixed by the contract, they shall be performed in that order which the nature of the transaction requires.
ILLUSTRATIONS
(a) A and B contract that A shall build a house for B at a fixed price. A's promise to build the house must be performed before B's promise to pay for it.
(b) A and B contract that A shall make over his stock-in-trade to B at a fixed price, and B promises to give security for the payment of the money. A's promise need not be performed until the security is given, for the nature of the transaction requires that A should have security before he delivers up his stock.
54 Liability of party preventing event on which contract is to take effect cite [+]
When a contract contains reciprocal promises, and one party to the contract prevents the other from performing his promise, the contract becomes voidable at the option of the party so prevented; and he is entitled to compensation from the other party for any loss which he may sustain in consequence of the non-performance of the contract.
ILLUSTRATION
A and B contract that B shall execute certain work for A for RM1,000. B is ready and willing to execute the work accordingly, but A prevents him from doing so. The contract is voidable at the option of B; and, if he elects to rescind it, he is entitled to recover from A compensation for any loss which he has incurred by its non-performance.
55 Effect of default as to that promise which should be first performed, in contract consisting of reciprocal promises cite [+]
When a contract consists of reciprocal promises, such that one of them cannot be performed, or that its performance cannot be claimed till the other has been performed, and the promisor of the promise last mentioned fails to perform it, the promisor cannot claim the performance of the reciprocal promise, and must make compensation to the other party to the contract for any loss which the other party may sustain by the non-performance of the contract.
ILLUSTRATIONS
(a) A hires B's ship to take in and convey, from Kelang to Singapore, a cargo to be provided by A, B receiving a certain freight for its conveyance. A does not provide any cargo for the ship. A cannot claim the performance of B's promise, and must make compensation to B for the loss which B sustains by the non-performance of the contract.
(b) A contracts with B to execute certain builders' work for a fixed price, B supplying the scaffolding and timber necessary for the work. B refuses to furnish any scaffolding or timber, and the work cannot be executed. A need not execute the work, and B is bound to make compensation to A for any loss caused to him by the non-performance of the contract.
(c) A contracts with B to deliver to him, at a specified price, certain merchandise on board a ship which cannot arrive for a month, and B engages to pay for the merchandise within a week from the date of the contract. B does not pay within the week. A's promise to deliver need not be performed, and B must make compensation.
(d) A promises B to sell him one hundred bales of merchandise, to be delivered next day, and B promises A to pay for them within a month. A does not deliver according to his promise. B's promise to pay need not be performed, and A must make compensation.
56 Effect of failure to perform at fixed time, in contract in which time is essential cite [+]
(1) When a party to a contract promises to do a certain thing at or before a specified time, or certain things at or before specified times, and fails to do any such thing at or before the specified time, the contract, or so much of it as has not been performed, becomes voidable at the option of the promisee, if the intention of the parties was that time should be of the essence of the contract.
Effect of failure when time is not essential
(2) If it was not the intention of the parties that time should be of the essence of the contract, the contract does not become voidable by the failure to do the thing at or before the specified time; but the promisee is entitled to compensation from the promisor for any loss occasioned to him by the failure.
Effect of acceptance of performance at time other than that agreed upon
(3) If, in case of a contract voidable on account of the promisor's failure to perform his promise at the time agreed, the promisee accepts performance of the promise at any time other than that agreed, the promisee cannot claim compensation for any loss occasioned by the non-performance of the promise at the time agreed, unless, at the time of the acceptance, he gives notice to the promisor of his intention to do so.
57 Agreement to do impossible act cite [+]
(1) An agreement to do an act impossible in itself is void.
Contract to do act afterwards becoming impossible or unlawful
(2) A contract to do an act which, after the contract is made, becomes impossible, or by reason of some event which the promisor could not prevent, unlawful, becomes void when the act becomes impossible or unlawful.
Compensation for loss through non-performance of act known to be impossible or unlawful
(3) Where one person has promised to do something which he knew, or, with reasonable diligence, might have known, and which the promisee did not know, to be impossible or unlawful, the promisor must make compensation to the promisee for any loss which the promisee sustains through the non-performance of the promise.
ILLUSTRATIONS
(a) A agrees with B to discover treasure by magic. The agreement is void.
(b) A and B contract to marry each other. Before the time fixed for the marriage, A goes mad. The contract becomes void.
(c) A contracts to marry B, being already married to C, and being forbidden by the law to which he is subject to practise polygamy. A must make compensation to B for the loss caused to her by the non-performance of his promise.
(d) A contracts to take in cargo for B at a foreign port. A's Government afterwards declares war against the country in which the port is situated. The contract becomes void when war is declared.
(e) A contracts to act at a theatre for six months in consideration of a sum paid in advance by B. On several occasions A is too ill to act. The contract to act on those occasions becomes void.
Important Notice: Legislation from this website is not a copy of the Gazette printed by the Government Printer, Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Berhad, for the purposes of section 61 of the Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967 [Act 388] and does not constitute prima facie evidence of the contents of the Gazette by virtue of the section.
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