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Offer & Acceptance

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The first issue in this case is whether Shaggy’s statement that he was willing to buy the display case as it was a family heirloom that got lost and is willing to pay for any price is a valid offer. One of the requirements of a valid offer is that the offer must be clear in meaning. Section 30 of the Contracts Act 1950 also provides that agreements are void if there is uncertainty in the meaning or when the meaning is capable of being made certain. In Ahmed Meah & Anor v Nacodah Merican, the defendant promised to build a ‘suitable house’ upon the marriage between plaintiff and the defendant’s daughter as a gift to them. The plaintiff sought for specific performance of the agreement but it was held that the agreement cannot be enforced as the promise is void for uncertainty. This is because the ‘suitability of the house’ was uncertain to the nature as well as the value of the house to be built. In the present case, Shaggy’s statement that he is willing to pay any price for the display case is too vague to be constituted as an offer. What is the range of value represented by the term ‘any price’? Would RM 1.00 suffice? What if the price is beyond his financial capability? An offer has to be unequivocal and clear. It could then be deduced that his statement was to induce Freddie to offer him the display case as well as to show Shaggy’s mere expression of willingness to enter into negotiations. Subsequently, Freddie was the one who actually offered to sell to Shaggy the display case at the price of RM 160,000.00. The second issue in this case is whether Shaggy’s silence can amount to an acceptance of Freddie’s offer of the display case, hence forming a contract between the two parties. According to section 3 of the Contracts Act 1950, it is provided, inter alia, that communication of acceptance of proposals is deemed to be made by any act or omission of the

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