Abdul Wahab Patail J:

The Appeals

These appeals to the judge in chambers are contained in encls. 23, 44 and 64, and may be summarised as follows:

1) Enclosure 23 filed on 19 September 1998 by the appellant/judgment debtor Kang Chong Yeow, (hereinafter referred to as appellant) against the decision of the senior assistant registrar made on 17 September 1998 that:

a) Afidavit menentang notis bankrapsi (kand. 4) filed on 27 May 1998;

b) Saman dalam kamar bertarikh 22 June 1998 (kand. 7) (further proceedings be stayed pending hearing of an Appeal in respect of the judgment in the Court of Appeal);

c) Saman dalam kamar bertarikh 21 June 1998 (kand. 16)(setting aside bankruptcy notice);

ditolak dengan kos.

2)Enclosure 44 filed on 24 December 1998 by the appellant as debtor against the decision of the senior assistant registrar on 21 December 1998 ordering:

a) Saman dalam kamar bertarikh 2 Disember 1998 (kand. 34) ditolak dengan kos

b)Notis oleh penghutang penghakiman niat untuk menentang petisyen bertarikh 2hb. Disember 1998 (kand. 32) ditolak;

c)Petisyen bertarikh 23hb. September 1998 (kand. 25) dibenarkan dan Perintah Penghukuman dan Perintah Penerimaan dibenarkan.

3)Enclosure 64 filed on 18 September 1999 by the appellant as debtor against the decision of the senior assistant registrar on 7 October 1999 ordering that the summons in chambers dated 4 January 1999 (encl. 46) be dismissed with cost. Enclosure 46 had applied for orders that:

a)All further proceedings be stayed until hearing of appeals in the proceedings to Judge in Chambers.

b)The adjudication and receiving orders of 21 December 1998 be set aside on the ground of being a nullity.

c)All further proceedings be stayed until hearing of this application.

All of these appeals were filed by T/n Saran Singh & Co for the appellant. Submissions on these appeals were heard together on 14 March 2000.

The Brief Background

The bankruptcy notice was applied for by Mivan Far East Sdn Bhd as judgment creditor (hereinafter referred to as the respondent) on 30 April 1998; and was issued and registered as Bankruptcy Notice No. 1208 of 1988 on 30 April 1998 (encl. 4) upon the basis of a judgment debt for US$51,450.16, interest thereon at the rate of 8% p.a. from 30 December 1994, and costs RM350 made on 21 June 1996 in the High Court in Malaya in Kuala Lumpur (Commercial Division) Guaman D1-22-1066-1994. The bankruptcy notice was given the number D3-29-1208-1998 in the High Court in Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

The bankruptcy notice was served personally upon the appellant at 3.48pm outside the Mahkamah Sesyen 1, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, on 21 May 1998.

Section 3(1)(i) of the Bankruptcy Act gives the debtor seven days from the date of service within which to take steps. The appellant filed his affidavit in opposition on 27 May 1998 (encl. 4). The grounds in the affidavit in opposition (encl. 4) are as follows:

Saya, KANG CHONG YEOW (NO. K.P. 2192826) seorang warganegara Malaysia yang cukup umur dan beralamat di No. 22, Jalan PJS 5/8 Taman Desa Ria, Petaling Jaya, dengan ini berikrar dan mengatakan seperti berikut:

1. Pada 21hb. Mei 1998, saya telah diserahkan dengan Notis Bankrapsi dalam premis Mahkamah Sesyen di Pulau Pinang. Saya mengatakan servis "tersebut tidak sah dan tidak mengikut peraturan.

2.Semenjak bulan Julai 1997, saya telah tinggal dan bermastautin di alamat No. 22, Jalan PJS 5/8, Taman Desa Ria, Petaling Jaya, dengan isteri baru saya.

3.Mahkamah tidak memberi Penghakiman dalam matawang Malaysia Pemiutang Penghakiman tidak boleh meneruskan prosiding ini atas Penghakiman matawang asing.

4.Saya menafikan bahawa kadar tukaran matawang asing adalah US$1.00 = RM3.62.

5.Saya mempunyai Tuntutan Balas dan tolakan terhadap Pemiutang Penghakiman yang melebihi daripada Penghakiman tersebut:

a) Penghakiman tersebut bukanlah satu Penghakiman yang 'final Judgment'. Terdapat Rayuan terhadap Penghakiman tersebut di Mahkamah Rayuan Sivil No. W-03-105-96 yang masih belum dibicarakan;

b)Dalam tindakan Mahkamah Tinggi