DATUK TANG CHAI YOONG v 1. ) FOO WAH CHEK didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Presiden Persatuan Hainan Selangor Dan Wiilayah Persekutuan 2. ) TAN KUAN FENG didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Naib Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Hainan Selangor Dan Wilayah Persekutuan 3. ) PERSATUAN HAINAN SELANGOR DAN WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN

w-02ncvca-1859-10-2024 Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) 27 January 2026 • W-02(NCvC)(A)-1859-10/2024 • 36 min read
14 cases cited (0 SG, 14 foreign)

Catchwords

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and set aside the High Court’s decision. Section 40 of the Societies Act 1966 does not mandate prior reference to the Registrar of Societies absent an express constitutional requirement or parties’ consent. The General Council and Executive Committee acted ultra vires the Association’s Constitution by rejecting the Disciplinary Committee’s findings, imposing suspension, and expelling the appellant without proper recommendation or procedure. The appellant was denied natural justice, particularly the right to be heard on appeal and at the extraordinary general meeting.

Practice Areas

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and set aside the High Court’s decision. Section 40 of the Societies Act 1966 does not mandate prior reference to the Registrar of Societies absent an express constitutional requirement or parties’ consent. The General Council and Executive Committee acted ultra vires the Association’s Constitution by rejecting the Disciplinary Committee’s findings, imposing suspension, and expelling the appellant without proper recommendation or procedure. The appellant was denied natural justice, particularly the right to be heard on appeal and at the extraordinary general meeting.

Judges (3)

Evrol Mariette Peters Coram Faizah binti Jamaludin Coram Lim Chong Fong Delivered

Counsel (4)

Karen Lee Firm Kevin & Co. Firm Karen Lee Counsel Appellant Kevin & Co. Counsel Respondent

Parties (2)

PERSATUAN HAINAN SELANGOR DAN WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN Respondent Datuk Tang Chai Yoong Appellant

Case Significance

DATUK TANG CHAI YOONG v 1. ) FOO WAH CHEK didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Pr... is a Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) decision dated January 27, 2026 (citation: w-02ncvca-1859-10-2024). <p>Datuk Dr. Tang Chai Yoong, former president of the Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association (which manages the Thean Hou Temple), was expelled from the association through proceedings he challenged as ultra vires and a denial of natural justice. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, finding that the General Council and Executive Committee acted beyond the Association's Constitution in rejecting the Disciplinary Committee's findings and expelling the appellant without proper procedu The panel comprised Evrol Mariette Peters, Faizah binti Jamaludin and Lim Chong Fong, with Lim Chong Fong delivering the judgment. Counsel appearing: Karen Lee (counsel for appellant), Kevin & Co. (counsel for respondent).

Summary

Datuk Dr. Tang Chai Yoong, former president of the Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association (which manages the Thean Hou Temple), was expelled from the association through proceedings he challenged as ultra vires and a denial of natural justice. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, finding that the General Council and Executive Committee acted beyond the Association's Constitution in rejecting the Disciplinary Committee's findings and expelling the appellant without proper procedure or right to be heard.

What was the outcome of DATUK TANG CHAI YOONG v 1. ) FOO WAH CHEK didakwa atas kapasitinya sebagai Pr...?

<p>Datuk Dr. Tang Chai Yoong, former president of the Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association (which manages the Thean Hou Temple), was expe...

Statutes Cited

Legal Profession Act 1976 (Cap 166)

Cases Cited (14)

UK (5)
[1937] AC 473 [1942] AC 130 [1966] 1 QB 273 [1978] AC 297 [1979] 2 All ER 22
MY (9)
[1965] 1 MLJ 228 [1979] 2 MLJ 11 [1981] CLJ 84 [2004] 4 CLJ 410 [2016] 1 MLJ 464 [2018] MLJU 1295 [2019] MLJU 380 [2021] MLJU 2815 [2022] MLJU 1590