The court affirmed the principle of freedom of contract, ruling that express terms in a contract exclude implied terms, and the defendant's fees were valid under the Executor Appointment Form.

Headnote:(A) Law of Contract - Principles of freedom of contract and mutuality - The court emphasized that parties are free to determine the terms of their agreement, provided they do not contravene the law. The court also highlighted that the express terms of a contract exclude implied terms. (Paras 32, 33, 64, 70)

(B) Executor Appointment - Fees - The court found that the defendant was entitled to charge administrative fees based on the terms of the Executor Appointment Form, which allowed for a fee of 1% of the gross estate value without a maximum limit. (Paras 41, 59, 72)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiff, son of the deceased, contested the administrative fees charged by the defendant, claiming they exceeded the maximum stipulated in the deceased's will. The defendant argued that the Executor Appointment Form governed the fees. (Paras 2, 22, 30)

Findings of Court:
The court ruled that the defendant's fees were valid under the Executor Appointment Form, which did not impose a maximum fee limit. (Paras 72, 91)

Issues: The primary issue was whether the defendant's administrative fees were excessive compared to the maximum stipulated in the will. (Paras 31, 46)

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the terms of the Executor Appointment Form were binding and that the defendant was not constrained by the maximum fee limit in the will, as the two agreements were separate. (Paras 50, 72)

Result: Plaintiff's claim dismissed with costs.

Table of Content
1. plaintiff contests fees charged (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 6)
2. details of the will (Para 4 , 5)
3. codicil signed by deceased (Para 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14)
4. defendant's appointment as administrator (Para 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47)
5. duration of estate administration (Para 17)
6. court's interpretation of agreements (Para 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92)

PENGHAKIMAN

Zulqarnain Hassan HMS:

Latar Belakang

[1] Plaintif/waris memfailkan rayuan ke atas penghakiman oleh Mahkamah yang menolak tuntutannya defendan/pentadbir wasiat/wasi setelah bicara penuh.

[2] terhadap Pohonan utama plaintif adalah perintah supaya defendan membayar RM277,765.88 kerana mendakwa defendan mengenakan yuran pentadbiran harta pusaka si mati secara berlebihan.

Fakta Kes

[3] Plaintif adalah anak lelaki Teoh Boon Beng [si mati].

[4] Pada 23 September 2010, si mati (testator) tandatangan dokumen Wasiat Terakhir (Last Will & Testament). Selepas ini dirujuk sebagai Wasiat.

[5] Ringkasnya Wasiat mengandungi beberapa klausa/syarat yang berikut:

(a) Syarat 3 memperuntukkan plaintif adalah waris kepada si mati; dan
(b) Syarat 15 yang memperuntukkan perkara-perkara yang berikut:
- pelantikan HSBC (M) TRUSTEEE BHD [HSBC] sebagai wasi (executor) untuk mentadbir harta pusaka si mati;
- HSBC berhak mendapat 1% daripada nilai kasar harta pusaka dan tertakluk kepada minima RM10,000.00 dan maksima RM80,000.00 setahun.

[6] Untuk kemudahan, lihat Wasiat seperti yang berikut:

"LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
I, Teoh Boon Beng @ Teoh Eng Kuan (NRIC No. ...) hereby revoke all former Wills and Testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last Will.
1. I DECLARE that I am resident and domiciled in Malaysia and this Will shall be construed in all respect according to the laws of Malaysia.
2. I hereby appoint HSBC (MALAYSIA) TRUSTEE BERHAD ... to be the Executor and Trustee of this my Will (hereinafter referred to as "my Trustee").
3. I DECLARE that at the time of making this Will I intend to subscribe for the Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share of RM1.00 issued by TEOH PENG HEONG & SONS SDN BHD in due course. In the event that the transaction cannot be completed during my lifetime for any reasons whatsoever, I DIRECT my Trustee to proceed with the share subscription and thereafter, transfer the same to my son, TEOH TEIK LIN (NRIC No. ...) absolutely. ...
4. ...
5. ...
6. ...
7. ...
8. ...
9. ...
10. ...
11. ...
12. ...
13. ...
14. ...
15. I declare that the appointment of HSBC (M) TRUSTEEE BHD shall be upon the Company's Terms and Conditions last published before the date hereof and that the Company shall be entitled to charge remuneration calculated at the rate of 1.0% per annum based on the gross asset value of the estate calculated from the date of death until completion of administration, subject to a minimum fee of RM10,000.00 per annum and maximum fee of RM80,000.00 per annum such remuneration shall be exclusive of 5% service tax payable to the Malaysian tax authorities and all out of pocket expenses.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand this 23 day of September 2010
Signed by the said Testator signed"

[7] Pada 3 Julai 2013, si mati tandatangan dokumen Wasiat tambahan (codicil).

[8] Wasiat tambahan memperuntukkan perkara-perkara yang berikut:

(a) Defendan akan mengambil alih tugas wasi daripada HSBC; dan
(b) Defendan berhak mendapat yuran pentadbiran (fee) mengikut kadar yangditetapkan dalam Borang Pelantikan Wasi (Executor Appointment Form) yang dikeluarkan oleh defendan.

[9] Untuk kemudahan, lihat Wasiat tambahan seperti yang berikut:

"CODICIL TO LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
This Codicil dated 3rd July 2013 is made by me Teoh Boon Beng, Alor Set

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2025 MarsdenLR 103

MAHKAMAH SESYEN KUALA LUMPURTEOH TEIK LIN LWN. ROCKWILLS TRUSTEE BERHAD[Guaman No: WA-A52-26-03/2023]

The court affirmed the principle of freedom of contract, ruling that express terms in a contract exclude implied terms, and the defendant's fees were valid under the Executor Appointment Form.

MAHKAMAH SESYEN KUALA LUMPUR
TEOH TEIK LIN LWN. ROCKWILLS TRUSTEE BERHAD
[Guaman No: WA-A52-26-03/2023]