Dr M Why Now Halim Saad

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Dr Mahathir Mohamad is puzzled over businessperson Halim Saad’s decision to sue him just ahead of the state election.
“Why did he not take action against me earlier and suddenly when the election is near, he sues me? Will the history of ‘baling batu sembunyi tangan’ repeat itself?” he asked in a statement.
On Wednesday, Malaysiakini reported that Halim has sued Mahathir, former finance minister II Nor Mohamed Yakcop and the government.
Filed with the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Aug 2, the civil action is over the government’s alleged deprivation of Halim’s rights as a controlling shareholder of troubled listed firm Renong Berhad in 2001.
Businessperson Halim SaadHalim claimed this was done via Khazanah Nasional Berhad effecting a takeover of UEM Malaysia Berhad at the direction of the government as part of a compulsory acquisition between July and October 2001.
Halim alleged the acquisition affected 372 million shares in Renong and that Mahathir and Nor Mohamed were the prime movers of the acquisition.
‘Nothing to hide’
Meanwhile, Mahathir said he had received the notice of the suit which accused him of ordering Halim to relinquish UEM and Renong Berhad without any profit for the businessperson.
“Halim also claimed he disagreed with my order but I misused my powers in 2001 to force him to relinquish. He claimed UEM and Renong are his and I had ignored his constitutional rights. He wants to be paid compensation.
“I will respond to these allegations in court through my lawyers. I have nothing to hide,” he added.
However, Mahathir said he found the suit and its timing to be “bizarre”.
“He had tried to sue Nor Mohamed dan Khazanah in the past but failed because the court threw out the case in 2013,” he added. - Mkini

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