JUDGMENT

Mary Lim Thiam Suan FCJ:

[1] The central issue in these 4 appeals concerns the interpretation and understanding of the Attorney General's consent obtained under s 9 of the Government Proceedings Act 1956 [Act 359].

[2] Of the four appeals, three appeals arose from the judicial review proceedings [JR proceedings] while the fourth appeal arose from proceedings related to Originating Summons No: 24NCVC-1128-12/2014 [OS 1128]. We heard all four appeals together. After full consideration of the submissions, reasonings of the Courts below and the records of appeal, we unanimously allowed the appeals relating to the JR proceedings and dismissed the appeal relating to OS 1128.

Background Facts

[3] Both the JR proceedings and OS 1128 arose from these salient facts.Vide a trust indenture dated 30 May 1845, on behalf of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the East India Company created a Burmese-Siamese Trust over a plot of land known as Lot 104 in Georgetown subject to terms and conditions as found in the indenture [the Trust]. On Lot 104 was/is a temple serving the Burmese and Siamese communities living on the island of Penang, and their successors in the said Trust. Expressly, the Trust was "for the management of the affairs of their Temple". Four trustees, two from each community, were originally appointed to manage the affairs of the temple [Trustees]. Amongst those terms and conditions was that the trustees had no "right, power