I learned of RM12.5mil legal fees only after suit filed, Muhyiddin tells court
KUALA LUMPUR : Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin told the High Court here today he only came to know of lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla's claim for RM12.5 million in legal fees for services rendered when a civil suit was filed.
Muhyiddin said he had 'presumed' Haniff's legal services rendered to Bersatu since the party's formation nine years ago were pro bono.
He said Haniff may have sent an invoice and subsequent reminders to Bersatu between January and March 2021 for the RM12.5 million, but 'I did not receive them'.
'At that time, I was busy managing the country and dealing with the (Covid-19) pandemic,' he said, adding that party matters are managed by the office bearers, namely the secretary-general and executive secretary.
Muhyiddin also acknowledged that Haniff represented Bersatu in several civil cases before the 2018 general election.
To a question by Haniff's lawyer, Nizamuddin Hamid, on whether he or any other Bersatu leader had objected to Haniff representing the party in court, the former prime minister said no objections were raised.
Nizamuddin: Haniff said you met him (in 2018) to discuss his legal fees. Did this meeting ever take place?
Muhyiddin: It never happened.
When Justice Akhtar Tahir asked Muhyiddin why Bersatu did not respond to Haniff's invoice, he said if the party had done so, it would appear as though it agreed that the legal fees needed to be paid.
'We thought his (Haniff) services were rendered pro bono. Suddenly, out of the blue, he issued a bill.
'We felt that we need not do anything, and let this court decide,' he said.
Haniff filed his lawsuit in 2021, seeking to recover RM12.5 million in legal fees from Bersatu, which he named as the first defendant, for services rendered.
He also named Muhyiddin, Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and treasurer Salleh Bajuri as the co-defendants.
He alleged that before filing the suit, he had issued an invoice to the party for services rendered but received no response.
In its defence, Bersatu claimed that Haniff had provided his legal services on a pro bono basis from 2016 to 2020.
The hearing continues on June 3.
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