Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh J:

Introduction

[1] This is a claim concerning a contractual dispute arising from an employment relationship between the plaintiff who was engaged as business manager and a company operating a chain of hotpot restaurants. The plaintiff claims substantial damages for what she characterises as the defendant's repudiatory breach of a fixed-term contract of service. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant, through its conduct, required her to relinquish her managerial position without making proper arrangements for her continued employment.

[2] The defendant denies any breach contending instead that the plaintiff abandoned her employment. It also raises preliminary objections on the proper forum for adjudication.

Brief Background Of Facts

[3] The plaintiff commenced her career with Haidilao Hot Pot operations in China in 2015 under the employment of Haihongda (Beijing) Catering Management Co Limited. In August 2020, she was reassigned to Malaysia under the defendant's employment.

[4] On 1 August 2020, the parties executed a fixed-term contract of service whereby the plaintiff was appointed as the Business Manager-Asia Pacific for a term of five years from 1