Dr M, 2 others to file defence to Halim Saad’s suit by Oct 6

 

Tycoon Halim Saad (centre) claims that Dr Mahathir Mohamad (left) and Nor Mohamed Yakcop were the ‘prime movers’ of a takeover of UEM and Renong for which he was not adequately compensated.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has directed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two other defendants named in a suit filed by tycoon Halim Saad to file their defence by Oct 6.

The suit, filed in July, concerns a government takeover of Halim’s holdings in the Renong-UEM group in 2001.

Halim also named the federal government and former second finance minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop as defendants in the suit.

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All the defendants are represented by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly said Halim’s lawyers have been directed to file their reply to defence by Oct 23.

“Any interlocutory applications must also be filed by Nov 20,” Ahmad said, following case management conducted online by a senior assistant registrar of the High Court today.

Lawyer Lim Yvonne appeared for Halim.

In the suit, Halim claims 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.

Mahathir, 98, was prime minister from July 1981 to October 2003 and later from May 2018 to February 2020.

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Halim claimed in his 34-page statement of claim that Mahathir and Nor Mohamed were “the prime movers in respect of the said compulsory acquisition and deprivation”.

According to the filing, the stake comprised 372 million shares and represented 16% of Renong Bhd’s entire share capital.

Halim claims the shares, which were acquired by government investment arm Khazanah Nasional via its subsidiary in 2001, belonged to him personally and not to Umno, a fact acknowledged by current prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament on Nov 24, 1997.

Anwar was Mahathir’s deputy and also the finance minister and Umno deputy president at the time.

Halim claims that at the time, UEM held a 32.6% stake in Renong, while Renong held a 37.92% share in UEM.

He is seeking a court order for the government to pay him unspecified compensation or, alternatively, general damages to be assessed by the court, as well as exemplary and aggravated damages, interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

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In a statement on Aug 11, Mahathir said the suit was “somewhat strange” as Halim had previously attempted to sue Nor Mohamed and Khazanah in 2013, but failed. - FMT