High Court upholds RM77mil award against Merdeka 118 subcontractor

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has affirmed a RM77 million arbitration award in favour of the main contractor for the Merdeka 118 tower, dismissing nearly 70 challenges brought by its subcontractor. Judicial Commissioner Rajes Raghavuji ruled that the complaints raised by Global Wall (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (GWM) failed to meet the legal threshold under the Arbitration Act to set aside the final award and related costs awarded to Samsung C&T Corporation UEM Construction JV Sdn Bhd (SUJV).

The ruling requires GWM to pay SUJV RM77,022,327. 67 following a dispute over facade works for the landmark skyscraper project. GWM had challenged the tribunal's decision on various grounds, including excess of jurisdiction, breach of natural justice, bias, failure to consider evidence, delay damages, extension-of-one outlet claims, loss of profit, and back charges.