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⚖ CIPAA 2012 Specialists · Malaysia

Unpaid by the main contractor? Recover what you're owed.

We help contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and consultants across Malaysia recover construction payments through CIPAA adjudication, arbitration, and litigation — fast, decisively, and on a clear-fee basis.

RM50M+Claims Recovered
200+CIPAA Adjudications
20+Articles & Guides
100Day Resolution*
▍ Knowledge Hub

Featured CIPAA Articles

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REGULATED ·
QUALIFIED ·
RESULTS-DRIVEN
Bar Council Malaysia Members
AIAC Panel Adjudicators
SIArb Certified Practitioners
CIDB Registered Advisors
When the payment chain breaks down — we step in.
▍ THE PAYMENT PROBLEM

If any of this sounds familiar, you need to act now.

Construction payment delays cost the Malaysian industry billions every year. Every day you wait, your recovery options narrow and the other side prepares its defence.

01

Progress Claims Stuck in "Review"

Your certified claim has been sitting with the employer or main contractor for weeks past the contractual payment date — with no clear reason given.

02

Variation & Loss Claims Rejected

Genuine variations, extensions of time, or loss-and-expense entitlements are being dismissed without proper assessment under the contract.

03

Retention Money Withheld

Practical completion has long passed but retention sums and final account payments are being unreasonably withheld.

04

Threatened with Termination or LAD

You're facing wrongful termination, set-off, back-charges or liquidated ascertained damages that don't reflect the actual contract position.

05

Counterclaim or Arbitration Served

You've received a notice of arbitration, writ, or counterclaim and need experienced construction litigators to respond within strict deadlines.

06

Contract Terms Are Unclear or Unfair

You suspect the contract is one-sided or pay-when-paid clauses are being used against you in ways that may contravene CIPAA.

▍ WHAT WE DO

Four pillars of construction dispute resolution.

From statutory CIPAA adjudication to full arbitration and court litigation — we are a focused construction disputes practice, not generalists who dabble in construction law.

SERVICE / 01

CIPAA Adjudication

Statutory adjudication under the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 — the fastest legal route to recover construction payments in Malaysia.

  • Payment Claim drafting & service
  • Adjudication Notice & Response
  • Enforcement of adjudication decisions
  • Setting-aside applications & defence
Recover Payment →
SERVICE / 02

Construction Arbitration

Full representation in domestic and international construction arbitration — AIAC, PAM, ICC, SIAC — for complex disputes beyond the CIPAA scope.

  • PAM, AIAC & bespoke arbitral rules
  • Expert witness coordination
  • Document & quantum management
  • Award enforcement & challenges
Arbitrate Smartly →
SERVICE / 03

Court Litigation

High Court construction disputes, judicial review of adjudication decisions, winding-up petitions, and injunctions against bond calls.

  • Construction Court (NCvCC) practice
  • Injunctions on performance bonds
  • Winding-up & insolvency leverage
  • Appeals & judicial review
Litigate Effectively →
SERVICE / 04

Contract Review & Drafting

Prevention is the cheapest form of dispute resolution. We review and draft construction contracts to lock in your position before problems arise.

  • PAM, PWD, FIDIC, bespoke forms
  • Subcontract & supply agreements
  • Letter of Award & variation orders
  • Risk audits & contract health checks
Protect Your Position →
▍ HOW IT WORKS

From unpaid invoice to enforceable decision — in roughly 100 days.

CIPAA 2012 created a statutory fast-track for construction payment disputes. See the complete step-by-step process we walk every client through.

View Full CIPAA Process →
DAY 0
Payment Claim
DAY 10–25
Adjudication Notice
DAY 25–70
Submissions
DAY 90–100
Decision & Enforcement
▍ CIPAA KNOWLEDGE HUB

Twenty in-depth CIPAA articles, written by specialists.

Practical, up-to-date guides covering every aspect of CIPAA adjudication, construction arbitration, and Malaysian construction dispute law. Updated for the 2024 Amendment Act and recent court decisions.

▍ WHY MYCORP

A focused construction disputes firm — not a generalist.

We don't handle divorces, conveyancing, or criminal work. Construction disputes are all we do — which is why we win them.

Why Choose MyCorp →
"

We were owed close to RM 1.8 million for over a year and getting nowhere. They filed our CIPAA claim, ran it cleanly, and we had a winning decision in under 90 days. Money in our account two weeks later.

Managing Director · Klang Valley Subcontractor (M&E)

Don't wait. Every day reduces your recovery.

The statutory clock under CIPAA only starts when you act. Talk to a construction disputes specialist today — no obligation.

▍ TRACK RECORD

Recent victories.

Real results for real clients. A selection of recent recoveries and wins across CIPAA adjudication, arbitration and litigation.

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▍ GET IN TOUCH

Tell us about your matter.

Send us the details of your construction payment dispute and we'll respond promptly. The more context you give, the better we can assess your position from the first reply.

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By sending this enquiry you agree to be contacted about your matter. This form does not create a lawyer–client relationship and is not legal advice.

▍ THE CIPAA PROCESS

From unpaid invoice to enforceable decision in ~100 days.

The Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 created a statutory fast-track for construction payment disputes in Malaysia. Here is exactly what happens at every stage — and what MyCorp Construction Claims does for you at each step.

CIPAA is the fastest legal route to recover construction payment in Malaysia.

From a stuck progress claim to money in your account — here is how we get it done.

Three numbers that explain CIPAA.

CIPAA was passed in 2012 and came into force on 15 April 2014. It was amended in 2024 with operational changes from 2026. Its purpose is simple: stop main contractors and developers from delaying payment through endless excuses.

100
Days to a Decision
From service of Payment Claim to a binding adjudication decision in roughly 90–120 days.
10
Working-Day Windows
Multiple critical deadlines of 10 working days — miss one and your case is at risk.
45
Days for the Decision
The adjudicator has 45 working days from the Adjudication Response to issue a binding decision.

Each stage, broken down.

Here is the full journey from your first call with us to money in your bank account. We handle every step.

1
⏱ DAY 0 · PAYMENT CLAIM

We draft and serve a watertight Section 5 Payment Claim

This is the jurisdictional document. Get it wrong and the entire adjudication can be set aside. We make sure every Section 5(2) element is present.

  • Exact sum claimed and contractual due date
  • Detailed description of work or services rendered
  • All supporting documents attached
  • Clear statutory cause of action stated
  • Proper service by approved method (with proof)
2
⏱ DAY 1–10 · PAYMENT RESPONSE WINDOW

The non-paying party has 10 working days to respond

Under Section 6, they must admit, dispute or partially dispute the claim. Many disputes settle in this window — we handle any negotiation while preserving your rights.

  • If they pay — case closed, money recovered
  • If no response — claim is deemed disputed (no penalty to us)
  • If disputed — we move straight to formal adjudication
3
⏱ DAY 10+ · NOTICE OF ADJUDICATION

We serve formal Notice of Adjudication under Section 8

This commences the statutory adjudication. The clock now runs against the respondent — every delay tactic has a built-in deadline.

4
⏱ DAY 10–25 · ADJUDICATOR APPOINTMENT

We secure the right adjudicator for your case

Parties may agree on an adjudicator within 10 working days. Failing agreement, we apply to the AIAC for appointment. Choosing the right person matters — we know the panel.

  • Engineering background for technical disputes
  • Quantum specialist for valuation disputes
  • Legal expertise for contract interpretation issues
5
⏱ DAY 25–55 · WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

We prepare the Adjudication Claim, Response and Reply

This is where cases are won. We marshal evidence, draft submissions, and brief witnesses or experts. Three documents, all with hard deadlines.

  • Adjudication Claim — 10 working days after appointment
  • Adjudication Response — 10 working days from claim
  • Adjudication Reply — 5 working days from response
6
⏱ DAY 55–100 · DECISION

The adjudicator delivers a binding decision

The adjudicator has 45 working days from receipt of the Adjudication Response to issue a reasoned decision. The decision is binding from the moment it is delivered.

7
⏱ DAY 100+ · ENFORCEMENT

If they don't pay, we enforce — hard

An adjudication decision is paper until enforced. We deploy every tool CIPAA gives us, in parallel where appropriate.

  • Section 28 — register as a High Court judgment
  • Section 29 — suspend or slow down works
  • Section 30 — direct payment from the principal
  • Winding-up petition under the Companies Act 2016
  • Garnishee orders against bank accounts and debtors

📋 What you need to bring to your first meeting

  • The full construction contract and any variation orders
  • All progress claims, payment certificates and invoices
  • Correspondence about the unpaid amount (emails, letters, meeting minutes)
  • Architect's or engineer's instructions related to the disputed work
  • Photos and progress reports of the work in dispute
  • Bank statements showing what has and has not been paid
  • Any prior demand letters or notices you have sent or received

Common questions about the timeline.

What if I miss a deadline?
Missing a statutory deadline under CIPAA can be fatal to your case. The adjudicator generally has no discretion to extend statutory periods. This is why deadline management is one of the first things we lock down at the start of any matter.
Can the process be faster than 100 days?
In some cases, yes — particularly if the respondent pays during the Payment Claim or Payment Response stage. Many CIPAA matters resolve within 30–60 days when the claim is well-drafted and the respondent realises the writing is on the wall.
What if the respondent applies to set aside the decision?
Setting aside under Section 15 is narrow — limited to fraud, denial of natural justice, lack of independence, or excess of jurisdiction. We build claims to resist these challenges from day one. Setting-aside applications also do not automatically stop enforcement.
How much does the whole process cost?
Total costs (legal fees + adjudicator fees + AIAC admin) range from around RM30,000 for clear smaller claims to RM250,000+ for substantial disputes. We offer fixed-fee packages and clear scope letters before any work begins.

Ready to start your CIPAA claim?

The statutory clock only starts when you act. Talk to a specialist today — no obligation, no charge for the first conversation.

▍ WHY MYCORP CONSTRUCTION CLAIMS

A focused construction disputes firm — not a generalist.

We don't handle divorces, conveyancing, or criminal work. Construction disputes are all we do — which is why we win them. Here is what makes MyCorp Construction Claims different from the general litigation firms you've spoken to before.

Construction disputes are all we do.

Specialist focus. Decisive action. Recovery you can measure.

A track record that speaks for itself.

RM50M+
Claims Recovered
Across CIPAA adjudications, arbitrations and court litigation on behalf of our clients.
200+
CIPAA Matters
Run from Payment Claim through to enforcement — for contractors, subcontractors and consultants.
100%
Construction Focus
Every matter we take is a construction dispute. No conveyancing, no criminal, no divorce work.

What makes us different.

Most lawyers can read a construction contract. Few can read drawings, programmes, BQs and certified valuations the way we can. Here is what we bring to every matter.

i

Industry-Native Lawyers

Our team includes lawyers with civil engineering and quantity surveying backgrounds. We speak BQ, MS 1314, PAM clauses, FIDIC sub-clauses — and we read your drawings before we read your contract. Adjudicators notice. Opposing counsel notice. It changes the dynamic of every dispute.

ii

Transparent Fee Options

Fixed-fee CIPAA packages for clear-cut claims. Tiered fees for complex disputes. Success-based components where appropriate. Clear scope letters before we start. No surprise invoices, no padded hours, no "miscellaneous disbursements" you can't decipher.

iii

Speed Without Sacrificing Strategy

CIPAA deadlines are punishing — a single missed day can sink a claim. We have the bench depth, document templates, and procedural discipline to file fast without cutting corners. Speed is a feature of our practice, not an accident.

iv

Recovery, Not Just Decisions

An adjudication decision is paper until enforced. We don't celebrate winning the adjudication — we celebrate the funds clearing in your account. We have winding-up, garnishee, Section 30, and bond-call playbooks ready the moment your decision is issued.

The full construction dispute spectrum.

We handle the matters our clients actually face — from a stuck progress payment to a multi-million-ringgit international arbitration.

CIPAA adjudication & enforcement
Construction arbitration (AIAC, PAM, ICC, SIAC)
High Court construction litigation (NCvCC)
Performance bond and bank guarantee injunctions
Variation, EOT and loss & expense claims
Defective works and final account disputes
Contract review and risk drafting
Project insolvency and winding-up leverage

How we run every matter.

PHASE 01

Triage

Fast diagnostic of your position — strength of claim, jurisdictional risks, realistic recovery, optimal forum. You leave the first meeting knowing exactly where you stand.

PHASE 02

Strategy

Tailored action plan — CIPAA, arbitration, litigation, or sequenced combination. Clear scope letter, fixed timeline, and budget agreed in writing before we file anything.

PHASE 03

Execution

Tight deadline management, regular client updates, and proactive moves on the other side. We treat your file with the urgency we would want for our own business.

Qualifications, panels and memberships.

Bar Council Malaysia (Advocates & Solicitors)
AIAC Panel Adjudicators
SIArb Certified Practitioners (Arbitration)
CIDB Registered Construction Advisors
Members of the Malaysian Bar Construction Law Committee
Trained in FIDIC and PAM contract suites

"We were owed close to RM 1.8 million for over a year and getting nowhere. They filed our CIPAA claim, ran it cleanly, and we had a winning decision in under 90 days. Money in our account two weeks later."

— Managing Director, Klang Valley Subcontractor (M&E)

Let's talk about your matter.

One conversation. No charge. No obligation. Just a clear view of where you stand and what your options are.