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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Bersatu didn't pay bureau chiefs, Muhyiddin's ex-aide tells court
Marzuki Mohamad, a former principal private secretary to party president Muhyiddin Yassin, said no payments were made to lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla when he headed Bersatu's legal and constitutional bureau in the party's early years. (Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Bersatu did not pay individuals who led its internal bureaus, including its former legal head Haniff Khatri Abdulla, the High Court heard today. Marzuki Mohamad, a former principal private secretary to party president Muhyiddin Yassin, said no payments were made to Haniff during the time he headed Bersatu's legal and constitutional bureau in the party's early years because that was the practice then. 'Two other lawyers also offered their services voluntarily. It was standard practice not to offer remuneration,' said Marzuki, who now lectures at a university. He was testifying in a lawsuit filed by Haniff in 2021 to claim RM12.5 million in legal fees from Bersatu. Haniff also named Muhyiddin, deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and treasurer Salleh Bajuri as co-defendants. Haniff alleged that he had issued multiple invoices between January and March 2021, but received no response. Bersatu, in its defence, claimed that his services from 2016 to 2020 were offered pro bono. Marzuki also told the court he had drafted the party's constitution and had sought Haniff's feedback, but claimed Haniff never responded. Asked by Haniff's lawyer Nizamuddin Hamid whether he knew Haniff was never a party member, Marzuki said he never asked. When questioned about Haniff's invoices and reminders, Marzuki said he had not seen them and only learnt of the lawsuit through media reports. Justice Akhtar Tahir fixed Aug 25 for a decision after Bersatu's lawyer Chetan Jethwani confirmed that the defence had closed its case.
Free Malaysia Today
29-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
I learned of RM12.5mil legal fees only after suit filed, Muhyiddin tells court
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin denied that he had met lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla in 2018 to discuss his legal fees. KUALA LUMPUR : Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin told the High Court here today he only came to know of lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla's claim for RM12.5 million in legal fees for services rendered when a civil suit was filed. Muhyiddin said he had 'presumed' Haniff's legal services rendered to Bersatu since the party's formation nine years ago were pro bono. He said Haniff may have sent an invoice and subsequent reminders to Bersatu between January and March 2021 for the RM12.5 million, but 'I did not receive them'. 'At that time, I was busy managing the country and dealing with the (Covid-19) pandemic,' he said, adding that party matters are managed by the office bearers, namely the secretary-general and executive secretary. Muhyiddin also acknowledged that Haniff represented Bersatu in several civil cases before the 2018 general election. To a question by Haniff's lawyer, Nizamuddin Hamid, on whether he or any other Bersatu leader had objected to Haniff representing the party in court, the former prime minister said no objections were raised. Nizamuddin: Haniff said you met him (in 2018) to discuss his legal fees. Did this meeting ever take place? Muhyiddin: It never happened. When Justice Akhtar Tahir asked Muhyiddin why Bersatu did not respond to Haniff's invoice, he said if the party had done so, it would appear as though it agreed that the legal fees needed to be paid. 'We thought his (Haniff) services were rendered pro bono. Suddenly, out of the blue, he issued a bill. 'We felt that we need not do anything, and let this court decide,' he said. Haniff filed his lawsuit in 2021, seeking to recover RM12.5 million in legal fees from Bersatu, which he named as the first defendant, for services rendered. He also named Muhyiddin, Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and treasurer Salleh Bajuri as the co-defendants. He alleged that before filing the suit, he had issued an invoice to the party for services rendered but received no response. In its defence, Bersatu claimed that Haniff had provided his legal services on a pro bono basis from 2016 to 2020. The hearing continues on June 3.
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
RM12.5mil legal bill to Bersatu not exorbitant, lawyer tells court
Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla is suing Bersatu for RM12.5 million in legal fees, which the party said is 'exorbitant' or 'grossly excessive'. KUALA LUMPUR : A lawyer has denied that a bill for RM12.5 million issued to Bersatu for legal services rendered to the party is 'exorbitant' or 'grossly excessive'. Haniff Khatri Abdulla told the High Court he had acted for Bersatu since 2016, when the party was in the process of being set up. 'I was involved in many things (from) giving advice to reviewing (election) candidates. In fact, instructions (from party leaders) came from time to time and they were not in written format. 'In the end, Bersatu succeeded (under the Pakatan Harapan coalition) in the 2018 general election,' he said, in response to Bersatu's objection to the sum charged. Haniff filed a lawsuit in 2021, seeking to recover RM12.5 million in legal fees from Bersatu for services rendered. He said that prior to filing the suit, he issued invoices to the party for services rendered but received no response. In its defence, Bersatu claimed that Haniff had given it 'pro bono' services from 2016 to 2020. Haniff also told the court that he was not seeking to 'punish' Bersatu by issuing a high-value bill for work done after the Sheraton Move. He said he was only charging for the work he had done for the party. However, he did not deny wanting to disassociate himself from the party. 'To me, (through) the Sheraton Move, Bersatu betrayed the public's mandate, and I no longer want to be associated with them.' I never asked Haniff to charge, lawyer tells court Meanwhile, fellow lawyer Rosli Dahlan also testified today, as a witness for the defendants: Bersatu, the party's president Muhyiddin Yassin, and its treasurer Salleh Bajuri. He denied inquiring whether Haniff intended to charge any legal fees to Bersatu after the 2018 general election. 'I don't recall such a phone call at all,' said Rosli. He added that Bersatu was a new party (at the time) and had 'no funds to pay anyone'. 'Services rendered to the party (by lawyers) are on a voluntary basis without any expectation of fees,' he said. Asked by Haniff's lawyer Nizamuddin Hamid whether Rosli had ever seen Haniff's invoice, Rosli said he had. However, he said he did not recall seeing drafts prepared by Haniff in connection with a judicial review application by the party in 2018. 'Even if there was a draft (from Haniff) I would not have used it because we have different approaches (to handling cases),' said Rosli. Rosli said he did not charge Bersatu or Muhyiddin for services rendered when representing the party in a 2018 case. 'At that time, he (Muhyiddin) was sacked (from Umno) and the country was in chaos. I wanted to do something for the purposes of justice,' he added. The hearing continues before Justice Akhtar Tahir on Friday.
