In a surprising twist, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has stepped into the legal arena to represent Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in the ongoing lawsuit brought by Tan Sri Halim Saad. The lawsuit centers around allegations that the former prime minister instructed Halim Saad to divest his holdings in United Engineers Malaysia (UEM) Bhd and Renong Berhad, without reaping any profits.
Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, legal counsel for Dr. Mahathir, confirmed this shift in representation, attributing it to the time frame during which the alleged events occurred – a period spanning Dr. Mahathir's first term in office. The AGC's involvement isn't limited to just Dr. Mahathir; Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and the Malaysian government, both named respondents in the suit, will also be represented by AGC.
This legal tussle took an intriguing turn when Dr. Mahathir questioned the motives behind Halim Saad’s recent lawsuit. It's noteworthy that Halim had previously attempted to sue Nor Mohamed and Khazanah Nasional, a case that was dismissed by the court in 2013.
According to Malay Mail, Halim's current lawsuit, filed on August 2 in the High Court of Kuala Lumpur, seeks compensation for losses incurred due to the government's acquisition of UEM and Renong, as well as the alleged violation of his constitutional rights, stemming from what he claims was insufficient compensation for the government takeover. The lawsuit garnered public attention on August 9, coinciding with a case management session at the High Court. The next case management hearing is scheduled for September 13.
Advocated by the law firm Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, Halim's lawsuit is multifaceted. It requests several court orders, including a determination of the rightful compensation from the government and a declaration of Halim's ownership of the shares he held in Renong.
Interestingly, Halim's previous lawsuit against Nor Mohamed, the government, and Khazanah filed in 2013 was deemed beyond the statute of limitations, leading to its dismissal in 2013, confirmed by the Court of Appeal in 2014 and Federal Court in 2015. However, Halim argues that this dismissal does not impede his current lawsuit, emphasizing its distinct basis in the alleged breach of constitutional rights rather than contractual matters.
The legal saga unveils a backdrop of meetings between Halim, Dr. Mahathir, and Nor Mohamed, underlining the intricate web of claims and counterclaims in this high-stakes litigation. With AGC now at the helm, the courtroom drama promises to take unexpected turns in the pursuit of justice.
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