PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he will fight a suit filed against him by tycoon Halim Saad over a government takeover of his holdings in the Renong-UEM group.
“I have nothing to hide. I will respond to his (Halim) claims in court through my lawyer,” Mahathir said in a statement.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Halim had filed a suit against the government, Mahathir and ex-second finance minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
In a 34-page statement of claim filed in court last week, Halim claimed that Mahathir and Nor Mohamed forced him to relinquish his stake in the Renong-UEM group and rights vested in him without adequate compensation 22 years ago.
According to the filing, the stake comprised 372 million shares, representing 16% of Renong Bhd’s entire share capital. They were acquired by government investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd via its subsidiary in 2001.
Halim said the shares belonged to him personally and not to Umno, which he said was acknowledged by then deputy prime minister and finance minister Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament on Nov 24, 1997.
Mahathir, in his statement, questioned the timing of Halim’s suit, coming just before the legislative assembly elections in six states.
He added that the suit was “somewhat strange” because Halim had previously attempted to sue Nor Mohamed and Khazanah in 2013, but failed.
“Will the history of throwing stones and hidden hands repeat itself?” he asked. - FMT
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