KUALA LUMPUR (June 12): Comintel Corp Bhd (Comcorp) has been served with a statutory demand by U Television Sdn Bhd (UTV) to pay a sum of RM20.83 million, together with an annual interest rate of 8%, it said today.
The statutory demand was in relation to litigation action taken by Comintel Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcorp, against UTV and Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, the company added in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today.
The sum — being UTV’s counterclaim against Comintel — amounted to RM22.2 million, inclusive of interest calculated from Aug 18, 2017 to June 12, 2018.
“We will be seeking legal advice on this matter and will make the necessary announcement,” the filing added.
Last year, Comintel announced it had failed in its final bid to claim losses arising from an alleged breach of contract worth RM20.8 million with UTV and Tan.
Comintel, which provides telco services and technology solutions, had in July 2010 commenced legal action against UTV — now known as Ansa Broadcast Sdn Bhd — and Tan at the High Court, seeking RM20.8 million in general damages over the alleged breach of contract.
The suit was related to an award of a contract by UTV in December 2006 to undertake a re-design, transmission enhancement, network operation centre relocation and nationwide rollout implementation project on a turnkey basis.
UTV — which was then a pay cable television operator — had previously claimed Comintel had unilaterally terminated the engagement and claimed payments.
Chaired by former Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Shamsuri Arshad, Comintel is controlled by its managing director Eng Keng Hok @ Lim Keng Hock, who owns a 23.22% stake.
Tan, via Ansa Broadcast, is reported to be making a comeback in the pay television scene, after getting green light from the Malaysian Multimedia and Communication Commission to be a satellite pay TV operator.
Listed on the Main Market since August 2014, Comintel shares fell 1 sen or 4.88% today, giving it a market capitalisation of RM27.3 million.