The Kuching High Court is expected to rule within two months on a petition filed by a Sibu timber businessman to wind up a company, Sanyan Holdings Sdn Bhd, in which a brother of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud holds a controlling stake.

The first respondent, Mohamad Tufail Mahmud, a younger brother of Taib and who has a wide-ranging business interest, including property development, timber and plantation, is cited in the winding-up petition filed by a former Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) state assemblyperson, Ting Chek Sii.

Tufail is managing director and has a 56% equity in Sanyan Holdings which owns 98.3 percent of Pelita Towerview Sdn Bhd which in turn owns Sibu's tallest building - the 22-storey Wisma Sanyan, a commercial-cum-office complex.

The company is cited as the second respondent.

The petitioner Ting, also a former senator, holds the remaining 44 per cent equity in the company.

The first petition was heard on May 7 when Ting was cross-examined by Tufail's counsel.

It was adjourned for continuation to Wednesday this week. Both sides had submitted their affidavits.

Within two months

Judicial Commissioner Hamid Sultan Abu Backer yesterday directed counsel for both parties to hand in their submissions within two weeks and replies two weeks after that.

He said the winding-up petition was an urgent matter and indicated it would be disposed off within two months. It was filed on Dec 11 last year.

Tufail had filed his affidavit to oppose the petition on April 5 and his second affidavit on April 22, a day before the first hearing of the case (on April 13).

Ting's counsel objected to Tufail's affidavit on the ground that it was filed out of time and failed to comply with Section 30(1) of the Winding-Up Rules.

Tufail's lawyers did not apply for extension of time even though notice of preliminary objections was given by Ting's counsel.

Subsequently, the High Court agreed and expunged Tufail's second affidavit.

In another matter, Ting has also filed a petition against the chief minister's brother and other directors and shareholders of Sanyan Wood Industries Sdn Bhd claiming the majority shareholders had oppressed him.