Summary The Federal Court recently decided whether company directors can claim unfair dismissal as workmen under the IRA 1967 in Acexide Technology v Chang Heng Keong and Anor [2026]. Introduction – The Sacking On the morning of 6 November 2019, two men who had helped build a company from nothing were told, in the span […]
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Grandfather’s IP Legacy
Introduction – IP in a family business When a family business faces decline, the instinct is often to mourn the loss of bricks, mortar, and monthly revenue—yet the most valuable assets may be invisible. Intellectual property (IP), including brand names, recipes, customer relationships, and trade secrets, can outlive the physical shop and sometimes exceed it […]
Can directors be liable for oppression?
In this discussion on the case of AUSPICIOUS JOURNEY SDN BHD v. EBONY RITZ SDN BHD & ORS [2021] 3 MLRA 703, Federal Court clarifies when directors and third parties face personal liability under s 346 CA 2016 in minority oppression claims, and when winding-up remains the right remedy. Introduction In late 2012 a Singapore-listed […]
Breach of Fiduciary Duty in a Family Business
This article discusses the case of Sun Pharmaceuticals Sdn Bhd v Wong Fong Leng [2026] 633. The High Court delivers a landmark ruling on breach of fiduciary duty in Malaysia, awarding over RM70 million in a derivative action under the Companies Act 2016. This case discusses the events based on the published case report. In […]
Dispute in the Family Business & Derivative Actions
This article discusses how Malaysian courts handle derivative actions in family companies. We break down the Sun Pharmaceutical case and Companies Act 2016 requirements. When a Marriage Breaks Down, the Business Bleeds It is a quiet kind of devastation when a family company becomes the primary casualty of a divorce. In Kuala Lumpur, a well-established […]