Court reinstates KL Tower concession as defendant in RM1 billion suit

Bekas pengendali Menara KL Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd dan Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd mahu mendapatkan pengisytiharan bahawa konsesi LSH Service Master adalah terbatal dan tidak sah, serta menuntut kira-kira RM1 bilion sebagai ganti rugi dan pemulangan konsesi tersebut.PETALING JAYA: Mahkamah Rayuan mengembalikan LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd dan dua syarikat induknya sebagai defendan dalam saman RM1 bilion yang difailkan bekas pengendali Menara Kuala Lumpur, Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd dan Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd.Panel tiga hakim yang diketuai Hakim Azhahari Kamal Ramli sebulat suara memutuskan bahawa LSH Service Master serta pemegang sahamnya, LSH Best Builders Sdn Bhd dan Service Master (M) Sdn Bhd, tidak sepatutnya dikeluarkan daripada saman tersebut oleh Mahkamah Tinggi.Panel itu turut membenarkan Hydroshoppe dan Menara KL meminda pernyataan tuntutan mereka, selain menolak hujah bahawa pindaan tersebut merupakan langkah taktikal, lapor The Edge.Mahkamah mendapati pindaan itu dibuat pada peringkat awal prosiding dan dengan niat baik, tanpa bukti wujudnya niat tidak baik.Tiga syarikat tersebut diarahkan membayar RM30,000 kos kepada Hydroshoppe dan Menara KL, manakala kerajaan dan Menteri Komunikasi Fahmi Fadzil diarahkan membayar RM15,000.Hydroshoppe dan Menara KL memfailkan saman itu tahun lalu bagi mendapatkan pengisytiharan bahawa konsesi LSH Service Master untuk mengendalikan Menara KL adalah terbatal dan tidak sah di sisi undang-undang.Mereka turut menuntut kira-kira RM1 bilion sebagai ganti rugi serta pemulangan konsesi tersebut.Saman itu turut menamakan kerajaan dan Fahmi sebagai defendan.Sebelum ini, Mahkamah Tinggi membenarkan saman diteruskan terhadap kerajaan dan Fahmi tetapi menggugurkan tuntutan terhadap LSH Service Master, LSH Best Builders Sdn Bhd dan Service Master (M) Sdn Bhd.LSH Service Master mengambil alih pengurusan Menara KL pada April 2025.Menurut pemfailan LSH Capital di Bursa Malaysia, perbicaraan dijadualkan berlangsung dari 28 Jun hingga 2 Julai 2027.LSH Service Master dan LSH Best Builders merupakan anak syarikat LSH Capital. Former KL Tower operators Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd and Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd want LSH Service Master’s concession declared void and unlawful, and are seeking an estimated RM1 billion in damages and return of the concession.PETALING JAYA: The Court of Appeal has reinstated LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd and its two parent companies as defendants in a RM1 billion suit filed by former KL Tower operators Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd and Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd.A three-member panel led by Justice Azhahari Kamal Ramli unanimously ruled that LSH Service Master and its shareholders, LSH Best Builders Sdn Bhd, and Service Master (M) Sdn Bhd, should not have been removed from the suit by the High Court.The panel also allowed Hydroshoppe and Menara KL to amend their statement of claim, rejecting arguments that the amendment was a tactical move, reported The Edge.The court found that the amendment was made early in the proceedings and in good faith, with no evidence of bad faith.The three companies were ordered to pay RM30,000 in costs to Hydroshoppe and Menara KL, while the government and communications minister Fahmi Fadzil were ordered to pay RM15,000.Hydroshoppe and Menara KL filed the suit last year, seeking to have LSH Service Master’s KL Tower concession declared void and unlawful.They are also seeking an estimated RM1 billion in damages and the return of the concession.The suit names the government and Fahmi as defendants.The High Court had previously allowed the suit to proceed against the government and Fahmi but struck out the claims against LSH Service Master, LSH Best Builders and Service Master (M) Sdn Bhd.LSH Service Master took over the management of KL Tower in April 2025.According to LSH Capital’s Bursa Malaysia filing, the trial is scheduled for June 28 to July 2, 2027.LSH Service Master and LSH Best Builders are subsidiaries of LSH Capital.