KUALA LUMPUR (March 7): Messrs Azmi & Associates, the law firm representing 160 ex-employees of Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd, had sent a letter of demand to the law firm Messrs Dennis, Nik & Wong, who represent the liquidators of the wound-up publisher to release RM18.88 million in funds from trust properties that were liquidated.
This follows High Court judge Nadzarin Wok Nordin ruling on Oct 25, 2022 that the workers who had yet to receive their full compensation after filing for the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) are beneficiaries of proceeds from the 29 trust properties.
In a letter dated March 3 by Messrs Azmi & Associates sighted by The Edge, the firm gave Messrs Dennis, Nik & Wong 14 days from the date of the letter to comply, and failure to do so would result in legal action being taken.
This after lawyers from the employees' firm sent correspondence to Messrs Dennis, Nik & Wong since last December, January and February to remind them.
The reminders were allegedly left unanswered.
The said 29 properties are located in Jalan Chan Sow Lin here, and also in Bangi, Selangor.
It is not known whether the said properties had been sold off or otherwise.
Although it is understood that more than 500 applied for VSS, only 160 filed the legal action through Messrs Azmi & Associations.
A check with lawyers for the ex-workers revealed that no notice of appeal had been filed over the KL High Court decision last October.
Normally, a notice of appeal has to be filed within 30 days of the decision.