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.

Background

On 9 July 2024, the Federal Court in Abdul Rashid Mohamad Isa v PTT International Trading Pte Ltd [2024] 5 MLRA 603 (“Abdul Rashid”), with a panel comprising Nallini Pathmanathan FCJ, Hasnah Mohammed Hashim FCJ and Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil FCJ, held inter alia that a Creditor’s Petition could be withdrawn without the consequences of bringing the entire bankruptcy proceedings to an end. Hurry Up

The Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023 (“Bill”) was passed by the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) of the Malaysian Parliament on 28 November 2023. It will be tabled before the Dewan Negara (Senate) and if passed, will be presented for Royal Assent and be gazetted into law.

Following the amendments made to the Insolvency Act 1967 (“IA 1967”) pursuant to the Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2023 (“Amendment Act”) which came into force on 6 October 2023, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) (“Minister”) had issued the Insolvency (Amendment) Rules 2023 [P.U.

On 1 April 2024, the Companies Commission of Malaysia issued the Guidelines for the Adjudication of Proof of Debts under section 369B of the Companies Act 2016 (“the Guidelines”).

In the recent decision in N.Chanthiran a/l Nagappan v Kao Che Jen [2023] 5 MLRA 247, the Federal Court had the occasion to put to rest, the question of whether leave of court is required for the commencement of proceedings against a court appointed liquidator. In this regard, the Federal Court clarified that leave of court is indeed required.

Brief Facts

Prequel

In the recent case of Genisys Integrated Engineers Pte Ltd v UEM Genisys Sdn Bhd & Ors [2023] 3 MLJ 627, the Federal Court had the occasion to consider whether the Limitation Act 1953 applies to a proof of debt. The Federal Court held that the Limitation Act 1953 does not apply to a proof of debt which is accepted and not formally rejected by a liquidator.

Background Facts