KUALA LUMPUR: A virtual hearing will be held on Monday (Oct 26) to determine whether Umno can be allowed to withdraw its suits against two MPs from Kelantan who had crossed over to PPBM.
They are Mustapa Mohamed (Jeli), who is a minister, and Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), who is a deputy minister.
Their lawyer, Ashok Kandiah, said the proceeding via Zoom would be before a High Court judge in Kota Bharu.
“We agreed for the virtual hearing since the lawyers are from Kuala Lumpur, which is under the conditional movement control order,” he said.
Ashok said the issue before the court was whether Umno could be allowed to withdraw its action but with the liberty to file afresh.
“Umno must abandon the suits once and for all,” he added.
Umno had also filed suits against Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Shahbudin Yahaya (Tasek Gelugor), Noor Azmi Ghazali (Bagan Serai) and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah).
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last year said the suits were filed as those who crossed over had committed breach of trust.
Umno had sought RM200,000 in damages from each of the nine MPs.
The High Court in Penang, early last month, allowed Umno’s application to withdraw its suit against Shahbudin, who is a deputy minister, but with the liberty to file afresh.
Shahbudin has filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal.
The High Court in Kuala Terengganu also struck out the suit against Rosol, but without a clear direction whether it was with or without the liberty to refile the suit.
The High Court in Johor Bahru has also annulled the suit brought against Latiff, with the liberty to file another later. Latiff is also appealing the decision.
Thirteen MPs, including four from Sabah, crossed over to PPBM when it was part of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
On March 1, PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin broke away from PH and was sworn in as prime minister after obtaining the support of PPBM, Umno, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and several individual MPs, including former PKR leaders.
Mustapa returned to the Cabinet as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (economy) while Hamzah is home minister and Latiff is rural development minister.
Others who are facing suits but were given positions are Noor Azmi (deputy health minister), Rosol (deputy consumer affairs minister), Mas Ermieyati (deputy entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister).
Ashok said trials for the remaining cases have yet to start. - FMT
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