Perak FC’s troubles deepened after the Industrial Court ordered the club to pay RM1.04 million in compensation to former head coach Lim Teong Kim over his wrongful dismissal.
According to Free Malaysia Today, court chairman D Paramalingam said the amount was calculated based on the remaining 16 months of Lim’s two-year contract, which was terminated prematurely on May 24, 2023 — just eight months after he took charge.
Lim will receive RM65,000 per month, as stipulated in his contract. Paramalingam ruled out reinstatement since the contractual term had already expired.
The court found that Perak FC’s decision to sack Lim midway through the season due to poor team performance was premature, unjustified, and commercially motivated. Paramalingam noted that the club’s financial struggles and declining results predated Lim’s appointment.
“When the company hired Lim, they knew it was a long and challenging task to restore Perak’s footballing glory. They dismissed him before he had the chance to deliver results,” said Paramalingam.
The ruling also highlighted that the club’s management appeared to be “finding fault” with Lim’s disciplinary measures toward players. Allegations of misconduct were deemed not serious enough to justify termination.
Lim had previously been given a final warning and directed to issue a public apology, which he complied with. However, the club later revisited the same issues as grounds for dismissal — despite officially citing only “unsatisfactory team performance” in the termination letter.
“Rehashing past misconduct allegations amounted to double punishment, which is both unfair and inhumane,” Paramalingam stressed.
The court further revealed that certain members of the club’s management had orchestrated a “player revolt”, secretly collecting complaints against Lim during a meeting at a Kuala Lumpur hotel on April 11, 2023. The move, according to the decision, was intended to oust him after they failed to find new grounds for dismissal.
Perak FC was represented by Weera Premananda, while Lim was represented by Edward Andrew Saw and Jerry Low.
Credit Photo : Perak FC
