Kuala lumpur: The Court of Appeal today ordered entrepreneur Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman to pay RM10,000 in nominal damages to two of his former business partners over a breach of a settlement agreement.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a three-judge panel led by Justice Datuk Azizul Azmi Adnan allowed the appeal by Iylia Nurdiyana Jasny and Mohd Syazwan Roslan, setting aside earlier rulings by the Sessions Court and High Court that had rejected their suit against Aliff Syukri. Justice Azizul stated that the court found Aliff Syukri had not fulfilled his obligation to promote the couple’s restaurant three months after the contract’s initiation.

The appellants, however, were unable to prove that the damages claimed were directly caused by Aliff Syukri’s failure to promote the restaurant, resulting in the court awarding only RM10,000 in nominal damages. The panel, which also comprised Justices Datuk Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin and Datin Paduka Evrol Mariette Peters, further instructed Aliff Syukri to cover legal costs amounting to RM30,000.

Iylia Nurdiyana and Mohd Syazwan, the proprietors of Belanga Bonda Kitchen, had initiated a lawsuit seeking a declaration that an agreement signed with Aliff Syukri, during their tenure as co-owners of Rumah Makan Terlajak Laris, had been terminated. They also requested the return of RM285,000 paid to Aliff Syukri.

On December 6, 2018, Aliff Syukri, alongside nominee Noorazlina Othman and Iylia Nurdiyana, entered into an agreement to utilize Aliff Syukri’s name and concept for a restaurant venture. The agreement stipulated that Aliff Syukri would sell the Rumah Makan Terlajak Laris business in Kota Damansara to the couple for RM285,000 and promote the restaurant on his social media throughout the contract period.

However, Iylia Nurdiyana and Mohd Syazwan alleged that three months subsequent to the purchase, Aliff Syukri had not executed any of the promotional duties required under the agreement, leading to a decline in the restaurant’s sales. In his amended statement of defense, Aliff Syukri asserted that he had adhered to the settlement agreement terms and promoted the restaurant on social media as agreed.

On July 11, 2023, the Sessions Court dismissed the couple’s suit, and the High Court affirmed that decision on July 2 last year. During the proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Muhammad Azraai Mohamed Yunos, Fozi Addhwa Mohamad Fozi, and Thaqif Hadif Ahmad Taju’d-din represented Iylia Nurdiyana and Mohd Syazwan, while Hasshahari Johari Mawi and Mohd Rosly Khady Ayub Khan represented Aliff Syukri.