JUDGMENT

Jeffrey Tan J:

Overtaken by events, this is, or this has become, the plaintiff's application, by originating summons dated 1 June 1998 (encl. 3), for the following Mareva injunction, and following ancillary order:

(a) Bahawa Defendan ditahan dan satu injunksi dikeluarkan untuk menahan mereka sehingga perintah selanjutnya samada oleh mereka sendiri, pengkhidmat mereka atau agen mereka atau dalam hal lain bagaimanapun dari

(i) melupus, menggadai-janji, menyerahak, menggadai, membebankan, mengambil keluar dari bidangkuasa atau dalam hal lain mengurus bagaimanapun mana-mana aset mereka yang ada dalam bidangkuasa ini sehingga tamatnya prosiding timbangtara nilai-nilai tanpa bebanan aset-aset tersebut melebihi RM2.5 juta.

(b) Bahawa Defendan diperintahkan untuk bersumpah dan menyerahkan kepada peguamcara Plaintif atau afidavit oleh Pengarah Defendan mendedahkan jenis, lokasi dan nilai semua aset-aset mereka dalam bidangkuasa termasuk tanpa memprejudiskan kata-kata umum sebelum ini (dalam jangka masa 7 hari perintah ini atau mana-mana masa yang diperintahkan oleh Mahkamah)

(i) identiti semua bank atau akaun-akaun lain samada di bawah nama Defendan sendiri atau dipegang bersama atau dipegang oleh penama-penama atau dalam hal lain atau bagaimanapun bagi pihak Defendan dan jumlah wang yang sedia ada di dalam akaun-akaun tersebut.

On the background facts, by a contract (contract) dated 1 June 1994 (made up of Articles of Agreement, and Schedule of Conditions of Building Contract - see encl. 1, exh. CCH 1), the defendant engaged whilst the plaintiff agreed, for the consideration set out in the contract, to carry out and complete the architectural, mechanical, electrical, and external infrastructural works for 157 units of 2-storey shophouse and office at Pekan Kelang Lama, Mukim Padang Cina, Daerah Kulim, Negeri Kedah Darulaman (hereinafter referred to as the said works). Several certificates for payment, amongst which, certificates for payment 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, were issued by the architect in charge of the said works (Messrs Arkitek KH Chew) to the plaintiff for work completed by the plaintiff.

Meantime, or thereabouts, disputes had arisen between the parties. On 21 July 1997, pursuant to cl. 30(4)(a) of the conditions of contract, the plaintiff called upon the defendant to concur on the appointment of an arbitrator to resolve various differences and disputes, and on 3 October 1997, the President of Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia appointed one Sundra Rajoo as arbitrator to resolve the following disputes between the plaintiff and defendant:

(a) the Defendant's alleged failure and or refusal to pay certificates 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22,

(b) the Defendant's alleged imposition and deduction of RM1,257,000.00 as liquidated and ascertained damages,

(c) the Plaintiff's claim of RM740,000.00 for the alleged late payments by the Defendant and for alleged increased cost of materials and goods,

(d) the Defendant's alleged failure or refusal to pay RM671,927.50 for additional works.

(e) the Plaintiff's claim for certificate for payment 23 for RM207,108.55 that the Defendant allegedly withheld, and the Plaintiff's claim for RM294,915.00 for direct loss and or expenses occasioned by the postponement of the works on 12.9.1997. (According to court documents, the Plaintiff and Defendant have respectively submitted their Points of Claim and Defence & Counter-claim to the arbitrator).

Enclosure 3 was first called up for hearing on 29 June 1998, but was adjourned at the request of the plaintiff to 20 July 1998. Meanwhile, on 7 July 1998, before encl. 3 could be argued, the defendant applied, coincidentally to this court vide encl. 3 in Penang High Court 24-670-1998 (670), for the following orders:

(a) to cancel the appointment of Sundra Rajoo as arbitrator in the matter of the arbitration between the Plaintiff and Defendant,

(b) to appoint a new arbitrator in place of Sundra Rajoo, and,

(c) to restrain the said Sundra Rajoo (cited as the 2nd Defendant in 24- 670-1998