Bill and Sean, both car mechanics, are partners in a car repair business located in an outer suburb of Kuala Lumpur. The premises have been provided since the commencement of the business by a mutual friend Tom, who has agreed that Bill and Sean can have exclusive use of his premises for three years in exchange for 20 per cent of the profits for the first five years of the business.

The written partnership agreement between Bill and Sean states:

(1) Both Bill and Sean have contributed equally in establishing the business, and agree that Sean is to receive 60% of profits and Bill 40%. (This is to reflect the fact that Sean has been practising longer and has more existing clients.)

(2) Any purchase of parts, goods or services exceeding RM3,000 must be agreed to by both partners.

In recent months, the business has suffered cash flow problems, and Bill has advanced an additional RM20,000 as a loan to the business. Sean has recently married and has been working much shorter hours than Bill in the past six months.

As the business is not as profitable as expected, Bill and Sean informally discuss the need to increase publicity. While Sean is away on holidays, Bill organises for Rocket Advertising Sdn Bhd, a company specialising in advertising and promoting medium scale businesses, to run a RM10,000 publicity campaign for their car repair business. Bill's brother Frank is the Managing Director of Rocket Advertising Sdn Bhd.

Also, for some time, Bill has been doing private car repairs from home on weekends. He has used the business name to attract clients and borrowed tools and equipment of the business to do the work. Bill did not inform Sean of either of these matters.

As a result of these incidents, Bill and Sean have recently begun quarrelling. Bill is unhappy about Sean's shorter work hours and demands a salary to reflect his longer working hours. He also seeks to be paid interest on his RM20,000 loan to the business.

Required:

a) Is Bill entitled to a salary for his longer working hours? Is Bill entitled to interest on the additional RM20,000 loan advanced to the business?

b) Are Sean and Bill both liable to Rocket Advertising Sdn Bhd for the RM10,000 publicity campaign for their business?

c) Is Tom liable for the advertising contract or other debts of the business?

d) Advise whether Bill is legally entitled to keep the profits from his "private" car repairs.