Problems continue to mount for PDZ Holdings after a Malaysian port served a writ against the Malaysian intra-Asia operator over alleged unpaid bills.
Northport is demanding MYR 909, 633 ($222,720) in relation to the use of its container handling services, storage, stevedoring and other port terminal ancillary services by Perkapalan Dai Zhun Sdn Bhd. (PDZSB), a former wholly-owned subsidiary of PDZ Holdings.
It is also demanding interest at 5% per annum on the sum owed from the date of judgement until the full settlement of the sum as well as costs and what were described as “further and other reliefs which the honourable court deems fit and proper”.
The writ together with statement of claim both dated 15 December 2017 was served by Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill.
However, PDZ says that PDZSB was wound-up by an order of the High Court of Malaya dated 13 April 2017 and that liquidators were appointed.
“The plaintiff avers that the justice of the case demands for PDZ Holdings to be treated as if it was the same as PDZSB,” the shipowner said.
Mohd Latip & Associates, PDZ Holdings’ solicitors, have advised that the company has a “strong arguable case to defend the said writ”, which is scheduled to be heard on 16 January 2018.
In October the Kuala Lumpur High Court threw out writs against PDZ Holdings over alleged unpaid bunker bills.
The writs had been filed by CCK Petroleum Sdn Bhd, CCK Capital Ltd and CCK Petroleum (Labuan) Ltd claiming a total of MYR 580,567.
In January 2017 the 700-teu feeder containership PDZ Mewah (built 1993) was arrested over alleged unpaid bunker bills amounting to $850,000.
Dan-Bunkering (Singapore) Pte is the largest claimant with an outstanding bill of $484,119 plus a further $108,689 in unpaid interest.
