The High Court in Ipoh has dismissed a Singapore casino’s petition to bankrupt a restaurant owner for his alleged failure to settle a RM26 million debt, ruling that the claim is not legally enforceable.
Justice Moses Susayan said Singapore-based Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd could not recover the debt owed by Lee Fook Kheun because it arose from a gambling transaction, which was void and illegal under Malaysian law.
Susayan also said he was bound by a Federal Court ruling early last year that a gambling debt was not legally enforceable in Malaysia on grounds of public policy.
The petition was based on a 2018 Singapore High Court order which was registered in Malaysia under the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act 1958.
The judgment sum, including interest as of Dec 22, 2022, amounted to RM25,937,294.58.
