Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Section 10(1) arbitration act 2005

Legal area

Court

6 Feb 2026

KEG SDN BHD (DALAM LIKUIDASI) IKANO JOHOR JAYA SDN BHD

Citation

BA-22C-31-11/2025 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

BA-22C-31-11/2025 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

There exists a binding arbitration agreement in Clauses 20.4-20.6 of the FIDIC Conditions complying with s9 AA 2005; the defendant applied for a stay before taking steps in the proceedings; the plaintiff failed to discharge the burden of proving the arbitration agreement is null, void, inoperative or incapable of being performed (impecuniosity and alleged bias do not meet the narrow statutory exceptions); accordingly a mandatory stay under s10(1) AA 2005 is ordered and the dispute is referred to arbitration.
6 Sept 2024

SPNB ASPIRASI SDN BHD SETIA AWAN MANAGEMENT SDN BHD

Citation

AA-22C-1-01/2024 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

AA-22C-1-01/2024 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Clause 18 is permissive and offers an option between arbitration and litigation and lacks essential arbitration particulars; the plaintiff exercised the court option by filing writ and the defendant did not issue a notice of arbitration; accordingly the clause does not constitute a binding arbitration agreement and the application for a stay under s.10(1) is dismissed.
1 Mar 2024

ESA JURUTERA PERUNDING SDN. BHD. Universiti Malaya (UM)

Citation

W-01(IM)(C)-105-03/2023 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

IM
Case number

W-01(IM)(C)-105-03/2023 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

The Court of Appeal held that on the facts the defendant had not taken other steps amounting to an unequivocal waiver of the arbitration clause: its requests for extensions and service of a Notice to Produce were preparatory, it expressly reserved rights, filed notice of arbitration and a stay application promptly, and only filed defence after court compulsion; therefore s.10(1) required a stay and referral to arbitration.

Malaysia Case Law

KEG SDN BHD (DALAM LIKUIDASI) IKANO JOHOR JAYA SDN BHD

SPNB ASPIRASI SDN BHD SETIA AWAN MANAGEMENT SDN BHD

ESA JURUTERA PERUNDING SDN. BHD. Universiti Malaya (UM)