KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla has failed in his bid for a summary judgment in his suit against Parti Pribumi Bersatu and three others over alleged non-payment of RM12.5mil in legal fees.

       The case will now go to a full trial in 2024 after High Court judge Justice Akhtar Tahir dismissed the application for a summary judgment yesterday.

       The court also ordered for costs of RM3,000 to be paid to Bersatu.

       Lawyer Chetan Jethwani, who represented Bersatu, said court dates were fixed from March 18 to 24, 2024. Case management will be on Jan 18 the same year.

       Mohamed Haniff said he would file an appeal against the dismissal soon.

       In the online proceedings, Mohamed Haniff appeared for himself with lawyer Nurul Huda Razali.

       On July 22 last year, Mohamed Haniff filed the lawsuit through his own law firm and named the political party, its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and treasurer Datuk Mohamed Salleh Bajuri as defendants.

       In his statement of claim, Mohamed Haniff said he had helped the party in legal matters since its inception in 2016 under the leadership of Dr Mahathir.

       He claimed Bersatu sought his help due to his active involvement against the Barisan Nasional government led by former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2015 and 2016.

       The lawyer claimed he had provided legal advice, helped draft Bersatu’s constitution and letters of correspondence, assisted in the set-up of the party’s pro-tem committee and attended to a challenge to its registration by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

       He was also responsible in drafting the cause papers when the party had problems with the RoS in early 2018.

       Mohamed Haniff said he had sent an invoice on Jan 11, 2021 to Bersatu for legal services rendered and there was an acknowledgement of receipt by the party.

       However, despite subsequent reminders dated Feb 16, 2021 and March 5, 2021, he claimed that there was no response from the party.

       “Hence, I am seeking a court order for the party and its office bearers to pay the RM12.5mil plus interests and cost of the action,” he said.

       In January, Mohamed Haniff filed the application for a summary judgment.

       A summary judgment is when a court makes a decision without going to a full trial.