Bersatu withdraws High Court suit against Dewan Rakyat Speaker after Federal Court ruling, ordered to pay RM10,000 in costs to five former MPs
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has withdrawn its High Court lawsuit against Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
The suit challenged his refusal to declare the parliamentary seats of five former Bersatu members vacant.
The party’s lawyer, Chetan Jethwani, informed the court that Bersatu had “no alternative but to withdraw” following a Federal Court decision.
That decision, on January 9, dismissed Bersatu’s application for leave to appeal in a separate, similar case involving four Sabah seats.
Lawyers for the five MPs, Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin and Michael Anthony, asked the court to award RM100,000 in costs.
They argued substantial work had been carried out in the case.
Federal counsel Zulkefli Sulaiman, representing Johari, said the government was not seeking costs.
Judge Mahazan Mat Taib then ordered Bersatu to pay RM10,000 in costs to the five MPs.
The defendants are Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).
The lawsuit was filed in 2024 by Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Capt (R) Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya and vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
It sought a declaration that Johari acted in violation of Article 49A(3) of the Federal Constitution.
The plaintiffs argued he erroneously ruled no unexpected vacancies had occurred for the five seats.
They also requested a court order for Johari to confirm the vacancies and notify the Election Commission within 21 days.