Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+603 2027 2923Share profile
Band 3
Provided by Irene Yong
Tax Advisory
Personal Data Protection & Privacy Laws
Technology, Media & Telco
Irene practices in all aspects of Tax and Revenue law advisory, structuring, planning, audits, investigations, dispute resolution (including advising taxpayers on the settlement of tax cases or in dealings with governmental authorities) and litigation (including tax appeals, declaratory proceedings, judicial review applications, civil suits, windings up etc.), sales tax, service tax, goods and services tax (GST), transfer pricing, income tax, real property gains tax, indirect taxes, stamp duty, taxation of oil and gas companies, tax incentives, trusts, and asset protection and planning. Irene has appeared as counsel for taxpayers before the GST Appeal Tribunal, the Special Commissioners of Income Tax and the Superior Courts of Malaysia.
Irene also practises in the area of Personal Data Protection & Privacy Laws, and provides information and data management strategies and solutions, business practice and process reviews, as well as template and document reviews for business enterprises. She has advised and conducted reviews and audits for various business enterprises, including financial institutions. She has presented many papers on personal data protection law and regularly conducts training and workshops for clients and event organisers.
• Member, Malaysian Bar
• Member, Malaysian Bar Council’s Tax Sub-Committee
• Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
• Member, International Fiscal Association (IFA) and its Malaysian Branch
• Malaysian representative, Women of IFA Network (WIN)
•One of the authors of Bloomberg BNA’s Business Operations in Malaysia
Contributed to:
•Tax Planning International Asia-Pacific Focus and Tax Planning International Indirect Taxes published by Bloomberg Tax
•The International Tax Review published by Euromoney Institutional Investor plc.
•The Asia Pacific Tax Bulletin published by the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation in Amsterdam
•Tax Nasional published by the Malaysian Institute of Taxation
English, Malay, Japanese
University of London
LL.B (Hons)
“Band 3” Lawyer in Tax
Chambers Asia-Pacific
2025
“Recognised Practitioner” in Tax
Chambers Asia-Pacific
2020
“Band 3” Lawyer in Tax
Chambers Asia-Pacific
2024
“Band 3” Lawyer in Tax
Chambers Asia-Pacific
2023
“Band 3” Lawyer in Tax
Chambers Asia-Pacific
2022
“Band 3” Lawyer in Tax
Chambers Asia-Pacific
2021
• The Boston Consulting Group Sdn Bhd (“BCG”)
We act for BCG in an Originating Summons case before the High Court following the transfer pricing adjustments made by the Revenue purportedly under Section 140 of the Income Tax Act 1967 (“ITA”) and the Revenue’s Transfer Pricing Guidelines issued on 2 July 2003 (“TPG”) which has no force of law.
In Q1 of 2015, the High Court allowed BCG’s application and ordered that the taxes and penalties imposed be discharged in full. The Court also granted interest and costs.
This is a landmark case where the Court held that the “transfer pricing” adjustments made by the Revenue under the TPG and Section 140 of the ITA are invalid for the years prior to 2009 as the Director General of Inland Revenue and the IRB did not have the power to raise the assessments. The Court also held, for the first time, that in making the purported “transfer pricing” adjustments, the Revenue had operated under a mistake of law.
The assessments were struck out and the Revenue was ordered to refund to BCG the full amount of taxes and penalties paid for Years of Assessment (“Y/A”) 2000 (CYB) to 2002.
Revenue’s appeal to the Court of Appeal was withdrawn in Q3 of 2015.
• Wincor Nixdorf (M) Sdn Bhd
We act for Wincor Nixdorf (M) Sdn Bhd (“Wincor Nixdorf”) in a judicial review proceedings before the High Court following the decision of the Minister of Finance (“MOF”) in only granting a remission of 50% of import duties and sales tax under Section 14A of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 33 of the Sales Tax Act 1972.
In Q4 of 2015, the High Court granted Wincor Nixdorf leave to apply for judicial review.
This is a landmark case being one of very few Malaysian cases on remission of import duties and sales tax and Commonwealth decisions on the issue of remission.
• Bridgestone Chemical Products (M) Sdn Bhd
We act for Bridgestone Chemical Products (M) Sdn Bhd (“Bridgestone”) in judicial review proceedings instituted before the High Court against the Minister of Finance (“MOF”) and the Director General of Customs (“Customs”) to challenge the MOF’s refusal to grant a remission on sales tax, import duties and goods and services tax, purportedly payable by the company (“Taxes”). This stemmed from Customs’ refusal to grant the company an import duty exemption for the correct period (“exemption”). Customs had granted an exemption to the company commencing 1 June 2015. However, the company contended that Customs had made a typographical error, viz. the correct commencement date should have been 6 January 2015 (not 1 June 2015) as the previous exemption had expired on 5 January 2015. The company was also granted similar exemptions for a continuous and uninterrupted period of more than two decades.
The High Court granted the company’s judicial review application, quashed MOF’s refusal to grant a remission of the Taxes, held that the company is not liable to pay the Taxes and is entitled to the import duty exemption commencing 6 January 2015 to 31 May 2015 (“the correct exemption”) and also compelled Customs to issue the correct exemption, amongst others.
This case is important as it deals with errors made by Customs when issuing exemptions and the consequences that flow therefore. It is also a landmark case which establishes that tax authorities, including Customs, can be compelled to rectify their own errors and to grant the correct exemption even where such errors are vehemently denied.
• Scientex Packaging Film Sdn. Bhd.
We acted for Scientex in its acquisition of 100% of Klang Hock Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd (KHPI) for RM190 million cash, as Scientex expanded its product portfolio in the plastic packaging segment. We advised on the Malaysian tax law implications, in particular on real property gains tax issues.
• Puma Energy Asia Pacific B.V.
In conjunction with our Corporate & Commercial Practice Group, we acted as Malaysian counsel to Puma Energy Asia Pacific B.V. in its disposal of 20% of its shares in Langsat Terminal (One) Sdn Bhd and Langsat Terminal (Two) Sdn Bhd to Dialog Terminals Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Dialog Group Berhad, a company listed on the Bursa Malaysia) for a total purchase consideration of approximately RM62 million. We provided tax law advice including on the real property gains tax implications on the sale of the shares.
• Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited
Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited is listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Nine Dragons Paper Group is the largest container board producer in Asia and one of the largest in the world in terms of production capacity. The Group primarily produces linerboard, high performance corrugating medium and coated duplex board. This transaction serves as the Nine Dragons Paper Group’s entry into the Malaysian paper manufacturing market.
As part of the structuring advice provided by the Firm, we provided tax law advice on the stamp duty and other tax law implications, in connection with the transaction.
• Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco)
We act for Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), through White & Case, in its investment and joint venture with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) in the Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (RAPID) project in the southern Malaysia state of Johor. The entire RAPID project is a US$27 billion project located between the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, conduits for Middle East oil and gas bound for China, Japan and South Korea. Upon completion, the refinery and petrochemical project will be the largest downstream petrochemical project in Asia.
We are the sole Malaysian Counsel acting for Saudi Aramco on all aspects of tax law advisory and structuring on this niche and specialised energy project, which includes cross-border transactional work, advisory, structuring, negotiations and strategy covering the full range of direct and indirect taxes (i.e. GST, withholding tax, real property gains tax, customs duties, income tax etc).
Following the purchase by Saudi Aramco of 50% stake in Petronas’ refinery and cracker project which was valued at approximately US$7 billion, we continue to advise Saudi Aramco in 2018 in relation to the implementation of the refinery and petrochemical project, including providing tax law advice on the direct tax and indirect tax implications, including the new sales tax and service tax regime.
This project involves novel issues of tax law structuring and incentives that necessitates engagement with the highest level of Malaysian Government and the Ministry of Finance to find customised and creative solutions for project specific and unique issues.
Provided by Chambers
10 items provided by Shearn Delamore & Co
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates July 2022
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for July 2022.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates August 2022
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for August 2022.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates April 2022 (2)
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for April 2022.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates March 2022 (1)
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for March 2022.
Webinar: Updates on Data Protection Law in ASEAN
We are delighted to host our partners from Drew Network Asia to present our webinar, “Updates on Data Protection Law in ASEAN”, on Tuesday, 22 February 2022, from 9am to 1pm (SGT/MYT/PHT) / 8am to 12pm (WIB).
Ministry of Finance's Press Release on Foreign Source Income and Stamp Duty on Contract Notes
The Finance Bill 2021 has recently been passed in Parliament and gazetted on 31 December 2021 (“FA”). One of the FA amendments, which takes effect from 1 January 2022, is that only income arising from sources outside Malaysia and received in Malaysia by any person who is not tax-resident in Malaysia
Expert Guides 2021: Women in Business Law
Shearn Delamore & Co. is pleased to announce that seven of our partners have been recognised in the 2021 edition of Expert Guides: Women in Business Law in their respective fields of practices.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates October 2021 (2)
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for October 2021.
Doing Business in ASEAN: Why Malaysia Should Be Your Choice
You are invited to join this webinar entitled “Doing Business in ASEAN: Why Malaysia Should Be Your Choice” on 2nd December 2021, Thursday at 4:00pm (Malaysian time).
Malaysia’s Position on the MLI
As Malaysia has now implemented the MLI, Irene Yong of Shearn Delamore & Co. looks at the provisions that have been adopted, in particular changes to the concept of permanent establishment, and at how the new measures will affect taxpayers.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates July 2022
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for July 2022.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates August 2022
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for August 2022.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates April 2022 (2)
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for April 2022.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates March 2022 (1)
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for March 2022.
Webinar: Updates on Data Protection Law in ASEAN
We are delighted to host our partners from Drew Network Asia to present our webinar, “Updates on Data Protection Law in ASEAN”, on Tuesday, 22 February 2022, from 9am to 1pm (SGT/MYT/PHT) / 8am to 12pm (WIB).
Ministry of Finance's Press Release on Foreign Source Income and Stamp Duty on Contract Notes
The Finance Bill 2021 has recently been passed in Parliament and gazetted on 31 December 2021 (“FA”). One of the FA amendments, which takes effect from 1 January 2022, is that only income arising from sources outside Malaysia and received in Malaysia by any person who is not tax-resident in Malaysia
Expert Guides 2021: Women in Business Law
Shearn Delamore & Co. is pleased to announce that seven of our partners have been recognised in the 2021 edition of Expert Guides: Women in Business Law in their respective fields of practices.
Shearn Delamore & Co. Legal Updates October 2021 (2)
We are pleased to bring you the latest legal updates for October 2021.
Doing Business in ASEAN: Why Malaysia Should Be Your Choice
You are invited to join this webinar entitled “Doing Business in ASEAN: Why Malaysia Should Be Your Choice” on 2nd December 2021, Thursday at 4:00pm (Malaysian time).
Malaysia’s Position on the MLI
As Malaysia has now implemented the MLI, Irene Yong of Shearn Delamore & Co. looks at the provisions that have been adopted, in particular changes to the concept of permanent establishment, and at how the new measures will affect taxpayers.