Lavania & Balan Chambers

Our buka puasa dinner at Tumis wasn’t just about enjoying lots of food—it was a night filled with round-table riddles and games that brought out our nostalgic sides.

The article examines the High Court decision in Soon Lai Tiong v Lim Tian Fei & Ors [2026] MLJU 646, reaffirming the equitable basis of minority oppression relief under section 346 of the Companies Act 2016 in the context of closely held companies. It analyses how a long‑established company with equal shareholding and informal management arrangements constituted a quasi‑partnership, giving rise to legitimate expectations of participation in management. The court held that the plaintiff was subjected to oppressive and unfairly prejudicial conduct through denial of statutory rights, exclusion from management, and the deliberate perpetuation of deadlock, notwithstanding the absence of any formal removal as director. Emphasizing a substance‑over‑form and fact‑sensitive approach, the court found that such cumulative conduct breached standards of fair dealing. As an appropriate remedy, the court ordered a buy‑out of the plaintiff’s shares at fair value rather than winding up, underscoring that buy‑out relief is often the most proportionate and commercially sensible solution where shareholder relationships have irretrievably broken down but the business remains viable.

the surveyor appointed by FGV's holdings Bhd has today defended his valuation of the two yes.