This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on January 16, 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: Glove maker WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd’s former chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Lee Son Hong said he had managed the company “diligently and professionally” since its early days.

A letter by Lee’s lawyer, Guok Partnership, to The Edge Financial Daily, said that he is disputing the allegations made against him by WRP Asia Pacific’s board.

“Our client has selflessly contributed to the growth and development of the company until it has become what it is today. In fact, our client has pledged his (and his wife’s) personal guarantee to secure financing for the company.

“In addition, our client has also made advances [of] approximately RM10 million to support the operation of the company which is still due and owing to him. The welfare of the employees has always been the priority of our client. It is without doubt that our client’s commitment [to] and love [for] the company [are] the foundation stone of the success of the company,” the letter read.

Guok Partnership pointed out that the turbulence WRP Asia Pacific is experiencing now arose from the disputes between Lee and TAEL Partners in relation to the shareholding of the company, which is now a subject matter before the Singapore Arbitration Centre (SAC).

“In fact, multiple legal suits and/or applications were initiated by TAEL Partners to gain control of the company despite knowing fully well the issue is now pending before the SAC,” it said.

To recap, WRP Asia Pacific’s board issued a statement, through its lawyer Matthew Thomas Philip, saying that the company has initiated legal action against Lee, as part of efforts by its directors to revive the company’s business.

The glove maker grabbed news headlines last year after its rubber gloves were banned by the US on purported grounds that they were made with forced labour.

Thomas Philip’s statement claimed that WRP Asia Pacific was mismanaged by Lee, who refused to account to the board of directors as to the company’s state of affairs. It further accused Lee of conspiring to wind up the company.