July 30 decision on Najib’s bid to withdraw suit against Pua

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court will decide on July 30 whether former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak can withdraw his suit against Damansara Member of Parliament Tony Pua Kiam Wee over a video clip relating to the tabling of the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill or RUU355.

Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab fixed the date after hearing submissions from Najib’s lawyer, Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, and lawyer Tan Ch’eng Leong , representing Pua who objected to Najib’s application to withdraw the suit.

Earlier, Tan in his submission said it would cause prejudice to his client as there was no avenue for him to justify his statement over the bill.

He said Pua had also obtained leave to appeal from the Federal Court against an interim injunction order granted to Najib.

“Therefore the issue is important to be decided by the Federal Court. It is unjust to my client if the court allow the discontinuation of the suit before the appeal is to be heard,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Hafarizam said the application would benefit Pua as his client had applied to withdraw the suit with no liberty to file a fresh.

“The defendant should have look at this as a way forward that parties walk over and let bygones be bygones,” he said.

The Federal Court had set Aug 3 for case management of Pua’s appeal against the judicial notice.

Pua in his appeal questioned the Court of Appeal judicial notice stating that Najib did not commit an offence involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the judicial notice was questioned as it involved public interest and could affect other summons cases. - Bernama