A case study on Malaysian property and gift law, and family members who become squatters. In Butterworth, Penang, nestled along a shaded street, stood a modest house—ordinary in its appearance, extraordinary in what it had come to represent. To Madam Leong Sook Yin, it was home. To her son Christopher and his wife, it had become […]
A Cautionary Tale of Secret Trusts and Testamentary Wills
“He wanted the best for all his children… but he did not want all of them to know.” Act I: The Dying Man’s Last Wish In the final days of his life, Chin Joo Ngan lay frail and fading under the sterile lights of a hospital ward. A once-proud engineer who had built bridges and […]
Abandoned Babies and Malaysian Citizenship
Key Points Research suggests abandoned babies in Malaysia are granted automatic citizenship under Section 19B, but challenges exist in documentation and legal processes. It seems likely that many face hurdles like lack of identity documents, affecting access to education, healthcare, and employment. The evidence leans toward success stories, like Hashimah’s, showing legal advocacy can secure […]
Recognizing a Foreign Divorce in Malaysia
Introduction – The Foreign Divorce Recently, our firm had the privilege of assisting our clients, who were divorced in a foreign court. The ex-husband is a foreign national, while the ex-wife is a Malaysian. In the case of a foreign divorce, i.e. a divorce obtained in a court outside Malaysia, how should the parties go […]
When Beneficiaries Trim Their Shares After the Founder’s Passing
Introduction Recently, on 10 October 2024, the Malay Mail reported that the family of the late Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow announced, they would sell down their shareholding in Public Bank from 23.4% to 10%, over a period of 5 years. This 23.4% shareholding is a mix of shares held personally by the late Tan […]