KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 – The High Court has set Nov 18 to decide on former UMNO member Anina Saadudin’s attempt to stay the application by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to strike out a suit over a RM2.6 billion donation. Anina filed the suit against Najib and UMNO executive secretary Datuk Ab. Rauf on Aug 28, among others, to reclaim a portion of the RM2.6 billion donation that was allegedly deposited by the party president into his personal account in Singapore.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab fixed the date in chambers after hearing submissions from lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, representing Najib, and Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, acting for Anina. Anina had applied to stay the striking out application pending the outcome of her other suit challenging the termination of her UMNO membership.
Outside court, Mohd Hafarizam told reporters that he had in his submission said that there was no reason for Anina to stay Najib’s application as the two suits were different in nature. He said the plaintiff (Anina) should have filed the stay application immediately and not after Najib had obtained the stay to file statement of defence on Oct 1.
“But the plaintiff filed the stay application on Oct 6. This shows that she intended to delay our application to strike out the suit. Meanwhile, the court should wait the outcome of the other suit before deciding on Najib’s application to strike out the suit as it involved Anina’s membership status in Umno,” he said.
In the other suit, Anina challenged her termination as an UMNO member. She named UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and UMNO public officer Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh as defendants. In the meantime, Nov 30 has been fixed for hearing of the striking out application filed by Tengku Adnan and Ab Rauf before Judicial Commissioner S.Nantha Balan.
