Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Waiver of arbitration

Legal area

Court

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.
30 Nov 2022

HEKTAR JUARA SDN BHD TAM JAYA GROUP SDN BHD

Citation

BA-12A-64-08/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

BA-12A-64-08/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The High Court affirmed the Sessions Court: the defence and counterclaim and the JID were validly served at the Appellant's registered address rendering the JID regular; the Appellant failed to disclose an arguable defence on the merits; the purported arbitration clause was inapplicable or waived by the Appellant's conduct; therefore the setting‑aside application was rightly dismissed and the appeal is dismissed with costs (RM5,000).
14 Sept 2021

IFCI LIMITED (CIN: L74899DL1993GO1053677) ARCHIPELAGO INSURANCE LIMITED (NO. SYARIKAT: LL09355)

Citation

W-02(IM)(NCC)-1854-12/2020 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

IM
Case number

W-02(IM)(NCC)-1854-12/2020 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

The 2nd defendant twice requested extensions to file its defence and subsequently filed and served its statement of defence before applying for a stay; those actions constitute "other steps in the proceedings" under s10(1) and demonstrate election to proceed in court and waiver of the right to seek a mandatory stay to refer to arbitration; therefore the High Court's grant of a stay under s10(1) was erroneous and is set aside.
1 Jul 2021

ALPHA ORIENTAL BUILDERS SDN BHD DATO ONG KOK SUN [Menyaman dalam kapasiti sebagai Ahli Jawatankuasa Persatuan Hokkien Seberang Perai

Citation

PA-11ANCC-5-07/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

PA-11ANCC-5-07/2020 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Appeal dismissed because appellant failed to apply to set aside the default judgment before appealing; by entering appearance and applying for an extension of time the appellant took steps in the proceedings amounting to waiver of the right to refer the dispute to arbitration, justifying the magistrate's refusal to stay and the entry of default judgment.
5 Nov 2020

IFCI LIMITED 1. BISHOPGATE CAPITAL LIMITED 2. ARCHIPELAGO INSURANCE LIMITED

Citation

WA-22NCC-705-12/2019 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-22NCC-705-12/2019 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The court held that the AIL Policy contained a broad arbitration agreement covering the dispute, that the 2nd Defendant had not unequivocally taken a step abandoning its right to arbitration because its conduct (request for extension and defence filed expressly without prejudice) was to preserve the status quo pending a prompt stay application, and that the arbitration agreement was not null, void, inoperative or incapable of performance; accordingly section 10(1) Arbitration Act 2005 mandated a stay and referral to arbitration (Enclosure 12 allowed).

Malaysia Case Law

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

HEKTAR JUARA SDN BHD TAM JAYA GROUP SDN BHD

IFCI LIMITED (CIN: L74899DL1993GO1053677) ARCHIPELAGO INSURANCE LIMITED (NO. SYARIKAT: LL09355)

ALPHA ORIENTAL BUILDERS SDN BHD DATO ONG KOK SUN [Menyaman dalam kapasiti sebagai Ahli Jawatankuasa Persatuan Hokkien Seberang Perai

IFCI LIMITED 1. BISHOPGATE CAPITAL LIMITED 2. ARCHIPELAGO INSURANCE LIMITED