KUALA LUMPUR – Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla is seeking RM12.5 million in unpaid legal fees from Bersatu.
The claim was also made to party members Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Datuk Mohamed Salleh Bajuri, who holds the post of treasurer.
Haniff filed a writ initiating a court action on July 17.
In his statement of claim, he said the monies sought by him are for legal services rendered before Bersatu was formed until it pulled out of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and subsequently joined Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“From 2015 to 2016, the plaintiff (Haniff) was a lawyer actively battling via legal means the kleptocracy, corruption and abuse of power by then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his administration,” said the statement of claim.
“Thus, based on similar philosophical ideologies, the plaintiff was called by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir to offer legal advice related to the laws concerning the formation and administration of a political party.
“These individuals directly or indirectly involved the plaintiff and used his legal services.”
Among the specific services Haniff claims to have provided to the party are matters related to Bersatu’s registration with the Registrar of Societies, taking up court cases on its behalf, as well as issues concerning its involvement in the 14th general election.
Haniff said his legal services came to a halt on February 24 last year after the Sheraton Move that prompted Dr Mahathir’s resignation as prime minister and led to the formation of PN, which seized power from PH.
“The plaintiff pleads that his legal services to Bersatu ended on February 24, 2020, when Bersatu violated the pact with PH’s component parties to form the government.
“And, Bersatu also swerved from its original objective to defend Malay rights through a clean and ethical administration with integrity when it formed a pact with Barisan Nasional, which is known for its corruption, abuse of power and kleptocratic practices,” the statement continued.
Haniff said on January 11, an invoice was issued to Bersatu, Muhyiddin and Hamzah.
“Reminders were sent on February 16 to Salleh and one dated March 5 to Muhyiddin so that the defendants could take proactive steps to process the payment of RM12.5 million to the plaintiff.
“The defendants remained silent and never objected to the contents of the invoice.” – The Vibes, July 22, 2021
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