KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) head of conservation Donovan Casimir Louis has filed a civil suit against the MNS and eight members of its current council, including its president.
The suit, filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Aug 4, concerns both Louis’ employment status and his ability to carry out his responsibilities as head of conservation.
In his statement of claim, sighted by Twentytwo13, Louis claimed there had been a continuing course of conduct by members of MNS’ elected council, including an attempt to convert his employment from an indefinite-term position to a six-month fixed-term arrangement, interference with the performance of his duties and workplace retaliation through MNS’ employment and disciplinary processes.
Founded in 1940, MNS is one of Malaysia’s oldest conservation organisations, with its conservation division responsible for research, advocacy and initiatives concerning the country’s biodiversity and natural landscapes.
Louis said in his statement of claim that the suit was significant beyond individual employment circumstances, given his responsibility for ongoing conservation programmes involving government, civil society and funding partners through MNS.
Louis has served as MNS head of conservation since August 2022 and was confirmed in the position after completing his probation in April 2023.
On July 7 this year, Louis was issued a letter seeking to convert his employment from an indefinite-term position to a six-month fixed-term arrangement ending on Dec 31, 2026, subject to subsequent review by the MNS Council.
This followed the dismissal of MNS’ former executive director, to whom Louis had reported, during the first week of July this year.
Louis said he objected to the proposed change to his employment status and sought additional time to obtain legal advice. He was subsequently required to sign and return the continuation letter by July 24, failing which, according to the claim, MNS stated that July 24 would be his final working day.
Louis said he signed the letter on July 24 under protest.
The statement of claim further stated that Louis was subjected to increased scrutiny and disciplinary action in connection with his duties, including show-cause and warning letters. Louis alleged in his claim that these actions formed part of a broader course of retaliation and interference with his role.
He subsequently sought legal advice and commenced proceedings against MNS and members of its 2024-2026 council.
Louis said that since becoming MNS head of conservation in 2022, he had overseen the rebuilding and management of MNS’ Conservation Division, which currently comprises seven scientific officers.
He assumed the role following the death of his predecessor and mentor, Balu Perumal.
During his tenure, Louis and the conservation division had secured more than RM2 million in conservation project funding, including a US$300,000 grant supporting mangrove landscape restoration along the north-central Selangor coastline.
The division also leads MNS’ Rantaian Urban Green Spaces (RUGS) initiative, a multi-stakeholder programme working with government and non-state partners towards the protection and establishment of a contiguous forest corridor within the Klang Valley.
In his statement of claim, Louis claimed the said funding was obtained through and/or materially dependent upon:
(a) his specialist expertise and standing in the conservation sector;
(b) his identification and development of the relevant projects;
(c) his direct relationships and negotiations with the funders;
(d) the funders’ confidence in his leadership and stewardship of the projects; and
(e) his continuing responsibility for the implementation, reporting and delivery of the funded programmes.
He also contended that MNS was selected and/or utilised as the institutional vehicle through which the relevant projects and funding would be administered, while Louis was entrusted with the substantive leadership, funder relationships, implementation and stewardship of the projects.
Louis also claimed that it was an express and/or implied understanding between the plaintiff, MNS and/or the relevant funders that the continued implementation and stewardship of the projects were materially dependent upon his leadership and involvement, since the funding was live.
He said that by purporting to demote, remove or terminate him and exclude him from the projects which he secured and/or materially developed, MNS and the elected council members for the 2024-2026 term sought to retain the benefit of the funding and institutional relationships procured through him while frustrating the basis upon which the funding and projects were obtained.
In his statement of claim, Louis is seeking, among others, a declaration that he is a permanent employee of MNS and that the letter dated July 7, 2026, is null and void.
He is also seeking a declaration that MNS is allowed to utilise RM2,390,624.37 in funds obtained by him, subject to the continuance of his subsisting employment with the organisation on a permanent basis.
Louis is also seeking other relief from MNS’ eight council members named in the suit, including a declaration that elected council members for the 2024-2026 term had failed, jointly and/or severally, to discharge their fiduciary duties owed to him.
He is also seeking a permanent injunction restraining MNS, whether through its council, exco, office-bearers, employees, servants and/or agents, from terminating him through the conversion letter.
Louis is represented by counsel Lai Chee Hoe and Taysher Nair the case is fixed for case management on Aug 26.
