Halim Saad fails bid to reinstate lawsuit against Dr M, two others
A three-man bench comprising Justices Datuk Supang Lian, Datuk Lim Chong Fong and Datuk Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab dismissed Halim's appeal and ordered him to pay RM20,000 in legal costs.
"We find the appellant's suit is time-barred pursuant to the Limitation Act 1953 and Public Authorities Protection Act 1948, warranting the striking out of the suit," said Justice Supang, who delivered the court's unanimous decision on Monday (Aug 18).
She also said Halim's claim of concern about the violation of his guaranteed constitutional right should have been raised in his earlier lawsuit filed in 2013.
On May 9, 2024, the High Court allowed the applications by Dr Mahathir, Nor Mohamed and the government to strike out the lawsuit filed by the 72-year-old business tycoon.
Earlier on April 17, 2013, Halim filed a similar lawsuit against Khazanah Nasional, Nor Mohamed and the government to claim damages of more than RM1.8bil for selling his shares in Renong.
However, on Oct 31, 2013, a High Court allowed an application by Khazanah Nasional, Nor Mohamed and the government to strike out the suit on the grounds that Halim had filed the suit after a six-year time frame.
Halim failed to reinstate the 2013 lawsuit following the Federal Court's dismissal of his application to obtain leave to commence his appeal in the Federal Court in 2015.
Meanwhile, in his statement of claim in the lawsuit against Dr Mahathir, Nor Mohamed and the government, Halim, who is Renong's former executive chairman and director, claimed that he intended to make a general offer to privatise UEM as a subsidiary of Renong with the implementation enabling the plaintiff to gain complete control and ownership of UEM.
Halim claimed that he was instructed by Dr Mahathir and Nor Mohamed not to proceed with the general offer because the government wanted to take over all the shares in UEM through Khazanah Nasional or a party to be nominated by Khazanah.
Halim alleged that he was also instructed to leave UEM and Renong as a shareholder and director, including the subsidiaries of the two companies, thus obliging him to hand over control of Renong and UEM to the government and further dispose of his Renong shares at a loss.
He claimed that Khazanah had acquired all of UEM's shares through its subsidiary, Danasaham Sdn Bhd, thereby gaining control over UEM, which at the time owned 32.6% of Renong shares.
Halim is claiming, among other things, compensation for the forced takeover by the government between July and October 2001, as well as a declaration that he is a Renong shareholder.
In their statement of defence, the defendants denied having forcibly taken over the shareholding of the two companies as the takeover was approved by Halim who received RM165mil in compensation. – Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
18 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Fisherman fined RM10,000 for bribing maritime officer
ALOR STAR: A fisherman was fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to an alternative charge of attempting to bribe a senior officer from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). Jamri Abdul Razak, 28, made the guilty plea before Judge N, Priscilla Hemalini, today. He settled the fine immediately. According to the facts of the case, Jamri had offered RM5,000 in cash to a senior assistant director from the agency on June 22, 2022. The bribe was intended as an inducement for the officer to release seven undocumented migrants who had been detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering and remaining in Malaysia without valid passes or permits. The offence was committed at the Kedah/Perlis MMEA office in Langkawi. The offence falls under Section 214 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, or a fine or both, if convicted. The prosecution was handled by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Mohd Zulfadli Azharudin, while the accused was unrepresented. The court also ordered the RM5,000 in bribe money to be forfeited to the government through the MACC.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Consortium of four local firms appointed for TH branding exercise
KUALA LUMPUR: The company appointed for Lembaga Tabung Haji's (TH) branding exercise is a consortium of four local firms. The selection was based on expertise and capabilities aligned with the project's requirements. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the consortium includes professionals of various races. He stated that the appointment followed TH's procurement processes and governance, overseen by its Board of Directors. 'Since 1963, TH has carried out brand reviews three times, in 1969, 1995, and 2009.' 'TH consistently upholds the highest standards of corporate governance and complies with all procurement policies and procedures.' 'TH has always prioritised Bumiputera companies under its procurement policy.' 'Last year, 81 per cent of TH's appointed vendors were Bumiputera firms, accounting for 70 per cent of TH's total expenditure.' For the branding project, Mohd Na'im confirmed the consultancy cost is RM5.9 million over three years. He clarified that the cost is not RM20 million as previously alleged. Meanwhile, Datuk Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) was suspended from Dewan Rakyat for two days. The suspension followed his repeated interjections during Mohd Na'im's clarification on non-Bumiputera firms in the TH branding exercise. Deputy Speaker Alice Lau Kiong Yieng initially asked Ahmad Marzuk to leave the chamber for 30 minutes. After he continued disrupting the session, Lau ordered his removal and extended the suspension to two days. 'I had given you 30 minutes to leave and return afterwards, but Yang Berhormat continued speaking without permission.' 'Would you prefer two days (out of the chamber)? Very well, two days it is,' she said. - Bernama
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Unity Ministry Seeks RM250 Mln Under Budget 2026 For Five Initiatives
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The National Unity Ministry (KPN) is seeking a RM250 million allocation under Budget 2026 to implement five initiatives aimed at strengthening community harmony and empowering communities. Its minister, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the Unity and National Identity initiative involves an allocation of RM100 million to implement the Flagship Kembara Perpaduan programme to strengthen the nation-building agenda. 'The Community Harmony and Well-being initiative, with an allocation of RM100 million, aims for a more progressive Neighbourhood Watch Areas (KRT) by revitalising the Voluntary Patrol Scheme, empowering Community Mediators, and implementing the MADANI Harmony Initiative. "Under the 'Ini Warisan Kita' (This is Our Heritage) initiative, an allocation of RM10 million is for the acquisition of historical materials and national heritage treasures to be preserved and inherited by future generations, while the 'Transformasi Pendigitalan' (Digitalisation Transformation) initiative, with an allocation of RM20 million, is for the digitalisation of national heritage treasures including museums, archives, and libraries to make them more accessible to the public," he said in his speech during the ministry's Budget 2026 dialogue session here today. He said that the fifth initiative, Conducive Unity Premises, with an allocation of RM20 million, aims to improve the facilities and amenities of agencies under the KPN for the well-being of the people. "Last year, the allocation we requested was RM290 million, but we only received RM90 million. For next year, we are requesting RM250 million, and we hope it will be considered because there are many more activities we want to carry out," he said. In a similar development, Aaron also hopes that the Finance Ministry and the Inland Revenue Board will consider providing tax exemption incentives to companies that contribute directly to unity programmes or activities at the community level. "We know that in Malaysia, there are many large companies that can help us provide funds for activities, but these companies, no matter how much money they give, will claim tax relief under social responsibility," he also said. Today's dialogue session involved government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), KRT, associations, and students from institutions of higher learning (IPTs) to discuss needs, suggestions, and priorities related to the Budget 2026.
