COMMENT | They were not loose arrangements. Each was legally binding and held the parties to terms, obligations, and conditions precedent and antecedent.

A rocket scientist would not be needed to solve this problem. Simple arithmetic would provide the answers, but together with them come bigger headaches caused by interfering politicians.

So, here’s the question: If A had been compelled to share its annual revenue of RM10 million with B, which was then an unknown party, and a 10 percent levy by C, how much would A have lost over nine months?

It’s straightforward – nine makes three-quarters as revenue of a calendar year, and the answer is RM4.5 million, leaving A with a meagre RM3 million.

Why would anyone want to enter such deals?

To put it in context...