In the recent case of Mitchell and another (Joint Liquidators of MBI International & Partners Inc (In Liquidation)) v Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber [2025] UKSC 43, the UK Supreme Court clarified the scope of fiduciary duties owed by directors and controllers of companies following the commencement of liquidation. The Court determined that a director whose statutory powers have ceased may still owe fiduciary duties if he purports to exercise authority over the company’s assets and intermeddles with them dishonestly.

In Victor Saw Seng Kee ((as joint liquidator of London Biscuits Bhd) (In liquidation)) v Wong Weng Foo & Co & Anor and other appeals [2025] MLJU 3886, the Federal Court made several significant rulings in relation to the exercise of powers by joint liquidators, appointment and removal of liquidators and in particular, the priority of termination benefits paid to employees retained by the liquidator to carry on the business of the company post-liquidation with the sanction of the Court, inter se unsecured debts of the company.

核心要点

在Novabrite Lighting Sdn Bhd v Emrail Sdn Bhd（Balaranee Construction，介入人）[2025] 11 MLJ 275一案中，高庭明确表示，法庭不会允许欠债人以司法管理作为战术手段，来阻挠债权人执行行动，而非真诚地推进公司重整。高庭以滥用诉讼程序为由驳回司法管理申请，并认可债权人在司法管理触动自动暂缓令期间提交的清盘申请，同时作出把关令，规定日后任何新的司法管理申请均须先取得法庭许可方可提出。

此外，高庭亦强调《2016年公司法》下的法定前置条件必须被严格遵守；反复依赖自动暂缓令本身亦可能构成滥用诉讼程序，并且法院将主动干预, 即便是自行行使职权（ex proprio motu），以防司法管理机制被“武器化”对付债权人。

A. 背景事实

Balaranee Construction 是 Emrail Sdn Bhd 的无担保债权人，其债权来源于未支付的劳务费用。当Emrail 未能按约定还款后，Balaranee 发出了法定通知，并随后提呈清盘申请。

Introduction

On 12 November 2025, the Federal Court delivered an important judgment that brings much-needed clarity to the powers, responsibilities, and protections available to liquidators acting under the Companies Act 2016 ("CA 2016").

The decision provides authoritative guidance on what constitutes "costs and expenses of winding up" under section 527(1)(a), and on the high threshold applicable to efforts to remove or sue a liquidator.

Brief background

Introduction

The Federal Court has recently delivered a decision in the case of Victor Saw Seng Kee v Wong Weng Foo & Co; London Biscuits Berhad (In Liquidation) (Civil Appeal No.: 02(f)-61-12/2024) ("London Biscuits"), addressing four important questions of law. This ruling provides clarity on the powers of liquidators, the role of creditors in appointing liquidators, and the treatment of employee-related payments during winding up.

Background and Procedural History

Introduction

Introduction

A. Introduction

The Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency (“Model Law”) was adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNICITRAL) in 1997. It was designed to assist countries in equipping their insolvency laws with a modernised and harmonised legal framework to effectively address cross-border insolvency and restructuring cases.

Introduction

The Cross-Border Insolvency Bill 2025 ("Bill") passed its first reading on 28 July 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat. The Bill has since passed its second and third reading in the Dewan Rakyat on 29 July 2025. The legislation aims to align Malaysia with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency ("Model Law"), establishing a clear legal framework for managing multi-jurisdictional corporate insolvency cases.

Background and Legislative Intent

Introduction

An amalgamation or reconstruction of companies under sections 366 and 370 of the Companies Act 2016 ("CA 2016") is a common tool for corporate restructuring in Malaysia. It enables the seamless transfer of assets and liabilities from the transferor to the transferee, typically within group structures where both companies share a common ultimate holding company.