Executor Says Late Waz Lian Co-Founder Ta Kin Yan’s Will Clearly Sets Out Estate Distribution
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — The executor of the estate of late businessman Tan Sri Ta Kin Yan has maintained that the entrepreneur’s final will provides clear instructions on the administration of his assets, saying the document leaves little scope for differing interpretations despite ongoing family disputes.
Datuk Poh Po Lian, who was appointed executor and trustee under Ta’s will, said his responsibility is to faithfully implement the late businessman’s wishes while remaining impartial throughout the estate administration process.
Poh, who co-founded the Waz Lian Group with Ta in 1987, said the will had been kept in a bank safe before being brought into effect following the businessman’s death.
Speaking in a recent interview, Poh said the document, dated Feb 4, 2008, clearly outlines the framework for distributing the estate and appoints him to oversee its administration.
He acknowledged that tensions among family members have complicated the process but stressed that his legal obligation is to execute the will in accordance with the intentions expressed by Ta.
According to Poh, his role requires him to remain neutral while ensuring that the estate is managed fairly and distributed to the rightful beneficiaries.
He said he remains committed to carrying out the trust placed in him by the late businessman and believes the wording of the will is sufficiently clear to guide the administration of the estate.
The High Court of Malaya granted probate for Ta’s estate to Poh on March 11, nearly two years after the businessman’s death at the age of 72.
The grant of probate authorises an executor to administer a deceased person’s estate, including managing assets, settling liabilities where necessary and distributing property in accordance with the provisions contained in a valid will.
Despite receiving probate, Poh said it is not possible at this stage to predict when the administration of the estate will be completed.
He explained that ongoing legal proceedings and disputes involving family members have added complexity to the process and are likely to affect the timeline for final distribution.
Poh said work is currently underway to identify and verify Ta’s worldwide assets, covering both personal wealth and corporate holdings accumulated through his various business interests.
To facilitate the administration process, he said legal professionals specialising in estate distribution have been engaged, while Singapore-based law firm Allen & Gledhill has been appointed to assist with distributing assets to the beneficiaries.
He added that a forensic accounting review will also be conducted to provide greater transparency throughout the administration process and ensure that all assets are properly identified and accounted for before distribution.
According to Poh, fairness was a guiding principle throughout Ta’s personal and professional life.
He said the late businessman believed strongly in treating all of his children equally and wanted each of them to be given the same opportunities, a philosophy reflected in the provisions of his will.
Ta passed away in his sleep on June 15, 2024, at the age of 72.
Besides co-founding the Waz Lian Group, he also established Majestic Gen Sdn Bhd and built business interests across multiple industries, including hospitality, resort development, manufacturing and golf clubs in Malaysia, China, Macau and Hong Kong.
