Background

[1] In the claim before the High COURT, the respondent, a housing developer and the appellant, an individual, had two contractual relationships.

[2] The first was via an oral contract made in 2009. In this oral contract, Tan Swee Leong [PW1], better known as Steven Tan, the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of the respondent approached the appellant with an offer that the appellant work as its project manager in its housing project known as 98 Greenlane Lintang Gangsa [the project]. The appellant was required to serve as project manager until the completion of that project. For ease of reference, this will be referred to as the 'employment contract'.

[3] The amount of consideration under this employment contract is disputed. The appellant maintains that it was for RM1 million whereas the respondent claimed that it was for RM500,000.00. The respondent claimed that it had advanced the appellant this sum of RM500,000.00 via a discount for the same amount in the second contractual relationship between the parties.

[4] The second contractual relationship between the parties arose when the appellant purchased from the respondent one unit of 3-storey terrace hou