Ex-employee sues GlobalFoundries, seeking at least $528,000 over wrongful dismissal

SINGAPORE, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Ex-GlobalFoundries Manager Sues Chipmaker for $528,000, Alleging Wrongful Dismissal Amid Corruption Probe

A former 27-year veteran of GlobalFoundries Singapore has launched a $528,000 lawsuit against the semiconductor manufacturer, accusing the company of wrongful dismissal after his abrupt termination in August 2023—amid ongoing corruption investigations that ultimately cleared him of wrongdoing.

Leong Ing Wah, a former manager, claims his sacking was a calculated move to distance the firm from scrutiny, while the company denies any predetermination, insisting his dismissal stemmed from proven misconduct unrelated to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) probe.

The case hinges on conflicting accounts of Leong’s role in a procurement scandal involving Yufar Precision Engineering, a vendor later linked to bribery allegations. While the CPIB dropped charges against Leong in 2024—sentencing another employee to six months in jail and a $47,600 fine—his legal battle now centers on whether GlobalFoundries violated due process, subjected him to a "hatchet job," and left him with lasting professional and psychological damage.

The civil suit, pending in Singapore’s High Court, marks the first public legal challenge to emerge from the fallout of the 2021 tender controversy, raising questions about corporate accountability in Malaysia’s critical semiconductor supply chain—a sector increasingly to the region’s tech ambitions.

Leong’s lawsuit, filed through WongPartnership, alleges that GlobalFoundries acted in "bad faith" by summarily dismissing him without adequate notice or a fair hearing. According to court documents seen by The Straits Times, the company’s Aug 1, 2023, meeting—where Leong claims he was handed a termination letter minutes later—was a preordained disciplinary proceeding disguised as an investigative discussion.

He contends he was never informed of specific allegations, let alone given time to review evidence or present witnesses. His legal team cites his subsequent diagnosis of adjustment disorder and insomnia as direct consequences of the dismissal, which he says has also impaired his future job prospects in the semiconductor industry.

GlobalFoundries, represented by Dentons Rodyk, vehemently rejects these claims. In its defense, the company asserts that Leong’s termination was the result of a thorough internal inquiry, during which he admitted to disclosing the firm’s budget for a tender to Yufar Precision Engineering—a violation of its procurement policies. The company’s statement emphasizes that Leong was provided with documents, including emails and quotations, and given an opportunity to respond during two meetings in June and August 2023.

It argues that his dismissal was independent of the CPIB investigation, which only began after the company had already initiated its own probe.

The timeline of events reveals a high-stakes procurement process that unraveled under scrutiny. Leong took over management of a project in September 2021, inviting four vendors—including Yufar—to submit quotations for a tender. By late 2022, the CPIB had launched a bribery investigation targeting Yufar, which had won a significant portion of the bid.

The company claims that during internal meetings, Leong became defensive when questioned about his interactions with Yufar’s managing director, who had allegedly provided favors such as holiday accommodation and meals—violations of GlobalFoundries’ gifts and entertainment policy.

Crucially, the company alleges that Yufar’s boss emailed revised quotations directly to Leong on three occasions before formal submission, ensuring the vendor remained the lowest bidder. This, GlobalFoundries argues, constituted a "flagrant breach" of its code of conduct. Leong, however, denies any wrongdoing, insisting he did not disclose the company’s budget and that a procurement department employee was responsible.

He further denies influencing the tender process, stating he never admitted to such actions during the meetings.

The legal battle also touches on reputational harm. Leong claims that after his dismissal, untruths spread that he was fired for receiving kickbacks, handcuffed by police, and sentenced to jail—allegations he says have tarnished his standing in the industry. His lawsuit seeks compensation not only for lost earnings but also for future damages, with the next case conference scheduled for November 16 in Singapore’s High Court.

For Malaysia, the case carries broader implications. GlobalFoundries’ Singapore operations—formerly Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing—have long been a cornerstone of the region’s semiconductor ecosystem, supplying critical components to Malaysian electronics manufacturers and contributing to the country’s push for higher-value tech production. The lawsuit shows the risks of corruption probes in sensitive industries, where reputational damage can ripple across supply chains.

With Malaysia eyeing deeper integration into global semiconductor networks, the outcome of this case may influence how local firms handle internal investigations and employee disputes in high-stakes procurement environments.

Industry observers note that the CPIB’s decision to drop charges against Leong while prosecuting another employee highlights the complexities of corruption cases, where individual accountability can hinge on circumstantial evidence. The company’s insistence that Leong’s dismissal was unrelated to the CPIB probe may face scrutiny, given the overlapping timelines of the internal and regulatory investigations.

Legal experts suggest the case could set a precedent for how multinational firms in Singapore—and by extension, Malaysia—conduct disciplinary proceedings amid external probes.

As the lawsuit progresses, attention will focus on whether the court finds GlobalFoundries’ internal process fair, or whether Leong’s claims of procedural irregularities hold weight. The stakes are high not just for the former manager, but for the semiconductor industry’s reputation in a region where trust and transparency are increasingly critical to attracting investment.

With the next hearing looming, the case remains a test of corporate governance in one of Asia’s most strategically important tech sectors.

Related: GlobalFoundries · Leong Ing Wah