Beware The Potential Pitfall When Dealing With A Sub-Delegate Of Trustees

The recent decision by the Court of Appeal in Manuan a/l K Marappan & Anor v Sinwufu Enterprise Sdn Bhd (Mashudan bin Kamar, Bustani bin Nador & Khairil bin Sulaiman (selaku pengamanah Persekutuan Guru-Guru Melayu Johor, Cawangan Batu Pahat) & 2 Ors – Third Parties) (and Another Appeal) [2020] 8 AMR 325 is a timely reminder on legal limits that may apply to the sub-delegation of powers by trustees.

Background

In essence, the two appeals turned on the validity of the transfer of five pieces of land in Batu Pahat, Johor owned by one of the respondents, Persekutuan Guru-Guru Melayu Johor, Cawangan Batu Pahat, i.e. the Federation of Malay Teachers Johore, Batu Pahat Branch (‘PGMJ') to the appellants pursuant to a power of attorney (‘PA') granted by the trustees of PGMJ to one Omar bin Kassim (‘Omar').