wa-22ncc-140-03-2023 — KENANGA INVESTORS BERHAD v 1. ) ZULRAFQ CAPITAL SDN BHD 2. ) TAN SRI ZULHASNAN BIN RAFIQUE PIHAK TERKILAN 1. ) DATUK WIRA ISMITZ MATTHEW 2. ) MUHAMMAD TAQIUDDIN HALIM

Catchwords

CIVIL PROCEDURE: Amendment of pleadings – Application to amend Defence and Counterclaim – Leave of court required under Order 20 Rule 5 Rules of Court 2012 – Yamaha Motor three-limb test – Whether amendments change character of suit from one character into suit of another and inconsistent character – Whether application made bona fide – Whether prejudice can be compensated by costs – Hong Leong Finance principles for late amendments – Whether amendments introduce new parties and fundamentally alter factual narrative – Whether amendments made at advanced stage when trial dates fixed and pre-trial preparations underway – Whether cogent and material reasons provided to explain delay of 22 months – Whether application constitutes tactical manoeuvre to circumvent dismissed discovery applications – Whether amendments introduce evidence rather than material facts – Whether efficient administration of justice affected – Whether legitimate expectations of parties to proceed to trial on existing pleadings – Whether courts should assist vigilant and not indolent CIVIL PROCEDURE: Pleadings – Preliminary objection – Non-compliance with Order 41 Rule 11 Rules of Court 2012 – Failure to attach certifying exhibit to proposed amendments – Whether technical non-compliance results in substantial miscarriage of justice – Whether deficiency can be cured – Whether substantive justice should prevail over procedural technicality – Whether opposing parties prejudiced by non-compliance

Judges (1)

Elaine Yap Chin Gaik Delivered

Counsel (9)

James Monteiro Firm Jeeva Partnership Firm Justin Voon Chooi & Wing Firm Shaikh David & Co Firm Henry Poh Jun Yang Counsel Defendant Jasmin Irisa binti Ahmad Mirza Counsel Plaintiff John Aloysius Skelchy Counsel Defendant Shaikh Abdul Saleem bin Shaikh Abdul Karim Counsel Plaintiff Victor Pang Chee Siong Counsel Defendant

Parties (5)

KENANGA INVESTORS BERHAD Plaintiff ZULRAFQ CAPITAL Sdn Bhd Defendant Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew Aggrieved Party Muhammad Taqiuddin Halim Aggrieved Party Tan Sri Zulhasnan bin Rafique Defendant

Summary

Kenanga Investors sought specific discovery of documents from Zulrafq Capital and Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique in a breach of Option Agreements claim relating to KNM Group Berhad shares worth RM34.2 million. The High Court dismissed the discovery application as a fishing expedition, finding the requested documents were not specifically identified, would improperly shift the burden of proof, and were not necessary as the applicants already possessed the key evidence.

What was the outcome of KENANGA INVESTORS BERHAD v 1. ) ZULRAFQ CAPITAL SDN BHD 2. ) TAN SRI ZULHASNA...?

<p>Kenanga Investors sought specific discovery of documents from Zulrafq Capital and Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique in a breach of Option Agreements claim ...

Statutes Cited

Evidence Act 1950 (Cap 56)

Rules of Court 2012

Cases Cited (1)

MY (1)

[1994] 2 CLJ 581

KENANGA INVESTORS BERHAD v 1. ) ZULRAFQ CAPITAL SDN BHD 2. ) TAN SRI ZULHASNAN BIN RAFIQUE PIHAK TERKILAN 1. ) DATUK WIRA ISMITZ MATTHEW 2. ) MUHAMMAD TAQIUDDIN HALIM