DATUK TANG CHAI YOONG 1. ) FOO WAH CHEK didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Presiden Persatuan Hainan Selangor Dan Wiilayah Persekutuan 2. ) TAN KUAN FENG didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Naib Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Hainan Selangor Dan Wil

DATUK TANG CHAI YOONG 1. ) FOO WAH CHEK didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Presiden Persatuan Hainan Selangor Dan Wiilayah Persekutuan 2. ) TAN KUAN FENG didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Naib Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Hainan Selangor Dan Wil

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal: the High Court erred in holding the appellant was obliged to first refer the dispute to the Registrar under s.40 because the Association's constitution did not expressly mandate such referral and s.40 requires consent; however the ExCo and General Council acted ultra vires by substituting their own findings for the Disciplinary Committee, suspending the appellant and enabling his unopposed expulsion without following clause 8.3 or affording him the right to be heard, thereby breaching natural justice; the High Court decision was set aside and judgment entered for the appellant with costs.

Citation
W-02(NCvC)(A)-1859-10/2024 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Parties
Appellant: Datuk Dr. Tang Chai Yoong; First Respondent (president, Persatuan Hainan Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan): Foo Wah Chek; Second Respondent (naib Setiausaha Agung, Persatuan Hainan Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan): Tan Kuan Feng; Third Respondent (registered Society): Persatuan Hainan Selangor
Court
NCvC
Jurisdiction
Malaysia
Judgment Date
28 January 2026
Case Number
W-02(NCvC)(A)-1859-10/2024 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal (society Membership Dispute) / Court of Appeal Judgment on Appeal From High Court Decision
Outcome
Appeal allowed; High Court decision set aside; judgment entered for Appellant
Legal Topics
Expulsion of Member, Disciplinary Procedure Within Societies, Ultra Vires Acts, Exhaustion of Domestic Remedies Under Societies Act S.40, Right to Be Heard (audi Alteram Partem), Constitutional Interpretation of Society Rules
Source Language
Malay/English
Societies Act / Association Law Administrative Law Civil Procedure Natural Justice Expulsion of Member Disciplinary Procedure Within Societies Ultra Vires Acts Exhaustion of Domestic Remedies Under Societies Act S.40 +2 more

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Parties

Datuk Dr. Tang Chai Yoong

Appellant

Foo Wah Chek

First Respondent (president, Persatuan Hainan Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan)

Tan Kuan Feng

Second Respondent (naib Setiausaha Agung, Persatuan Hainan Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan)

Persatuan Hainan Selangor

Third Respondent (registered Society)

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal (society Membership Dispute) / Court of Appeal Judgment on Appeal From High Court Decision

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether appellant was obliged to refer dispute to the Registrar under s.40 Societies Act before commencing court proceedings
  2. 2 Whether the General Council and Executive Committee acted ultra vires by reversing the Disciplinary Committee and suspending/expelling the appellant
  3. 3 Whether principles of natural justice were breached in the appeal to the General Council and at the EGM

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal: the High Court erred in holding the appellant was obliged to first refer the dispute to the Registrar under s.40 because the Association's constitution did not expressly mandate such referral and s.40 requires consent; however the ExCo and General Council acted ultra vires by substituting their own findings for the Disciplinary Committee, suspending the appellant and enabling his unopposed expulsion without following clause 8.3 or affording him the right to be heard, thereby breaching natural justice; the High Court decision was set aside and judgment entered for the appellant with costs.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; High Court decision set aside; judgment entered for Appellant

Orders

  • Set aside the decision of the High Court (Datuk Tang Chai Yoong v. Foo Wah Chek & Ors [2024] CJLU 2372)
  • Enter judgment for the Appellant in terms of his originating summons in the High Court