THE High Court in Kuala Lumpur today dismissed Umno’s application to strike out the suit filed by SRC International Sdn Bhd against the political party, for allegedly receiving a misappropriated sum of RM16 million from the company.

In May this year, the new management of SRC International, which is a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), filed the suit, together with its subsidiaries Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd as the plaintiffs, naming Umno as the sole defendant.

Lawyer Shahrul Fazli Kamaruzaman, who represented Umno, said that judicial commissioner Quay Chew Soon dismissed the filing because it contained issues that could only be determined by trial.

“The court allowed the plaintiffs’ application to amend the names of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Ahmad Maslan, who were initially named to represent Umno in the suit, to be replaced by Mohd Sumali Reduan, who is Umno working secretary, as a public officer representing the party,” said Shahrul.

He added that the court also allowed Umno’s application for an interim stay from filing its defence statement, pending an appeal of today’s ruling.

SRC International, Gandingan Mentari and Jendela Pinggiran are suing the party for the RM16 million sum, which they say was wrongfully transferred to Umno.

In its writ of summons, the plaintiffs alleged that the political party knew, or ought to have known, that the monies belonged to SRC International and they had no basis for receipt.

On May 10, the Finance Ministry confirmed that 1MDB and its subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd had filed 22 civil suits to seek its assets of more than RM96 billion, including RM300 million from various local parties. – Bernama, November 10, 2021.