Lawyer Fails In Rm12 5mil Legal Fee Suit Against Bersatu

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The High Court says Haniff Khatri Abdulla never informed the party that his services were given in exchange for payment.Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla’s lawsuit against Bersatu, its president Muhyiddin Yassin, and two other party office bearers was dismissed by the High Court with costs of RM150,000.KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has dismissed lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla’s RM12.5 million claim in legal fees against Bersatu for legal services rendered between 2016 and 2020
Justice Akhtar Tahir ruled that the evidence presented in court by defendants Bersatu, party president Muhyiddin Yassin, deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, and treasurer Salleh Bajuri was more credible.
“The plaintiff (Haniff) never (issued) bills, discussed or informed the defendants that his services were for payment.
“The billing only came after the Sheraton Move (in 2020),” the judge said, referring to Bersatu’s defection from Pakatan Harapan, which saw its government collapse and replaced by a Perikatan Nasional-led administration.
The court also found that the defendants’ inaction regarding Haniff’s invoices was justified, as no prior agreement for payment was established between him and Bersatu.
“Taking the circumstances and conduct of parties, the services rendered were on a voluntary basis,” Akhtar said.
Haniff was ordered to pay Bersatu RM150,000 in costs.
The lawyer filed his lawsuit in 2021, seeking to recover RM12.5 million in legal fees from the party for services rendered.
He alleged that prior to filing the suit, he had issued invoices to the party for services rendered but received no response.
In its defence, Bersatu claimed that Haniff’s services were given “pro bono” (without charge) between 2016 and 2020.
Haniff later told reporters he was likely to appeal against today’s decision. - FMT

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