KUALA LUMPUR – Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla’s claim to have acted for Bersatu in the past caught the party by surprise, even as he had constantly represented former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on legal matters.
Information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan said he had always assumed Haniff only acted as a personal lawyer to Dr Mahathir, the former prime minister for the Bersatu-led Pakatan Harapan government and the party’s ex-chairman.
“I have never been made aware otherwise,” he said in a WhatsApp message today, in response to an article by The Vibes that Haniff is seeking RM12.5 million in unpaid legal fees from Bersatu.
“If he was the party's official lawyer, he would have acted as per the supreme council’s instructions and served the whole party, not only one person.”
Wan Saiful said Bersatu would look into Haniff’s allegation and react accordingly, while also sarcastically commenting on the huge legal fees demanded by the lawyer.
“I have to add that it is only now that I know how much Haniff charges. Looking at his price, he is certainly in a different category!”
Earlier today, The Vibes reported that Haniff had filed a writ initiating court action on July 17, claiming the RM12.5 million sought is for legal services rendered from before Bersatu was formed until it pulled out of the PH coalition and subsequently joined Perikatan Nasional.
The claim was made to Bersatu, party president Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, secretary-general Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, and treasurer Datuk Mohamed Salleh Bajuri.
The writ was filed after multiple attempts to seek the outstanding payments since January 11 failed.
“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 Dr Mahathir, 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 services Haniff claims to have provided Bersatu are matters related to the party’s registration with the Registrar of Societies, taking up court cases on its behalf, as well as issues concerning its involvement in the 2018 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 Vibes, July 22, 2021
