Court Orders PAS To Settle RM656,000 Debt With Former Printer Of Harakah Newspaper
The summary judgment was delivered by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
By Dale John Wong — 06 Dec 2023, 11:01 AM
The Kuala Lumpur sessions court has passed a summary judgment acknowledging a printer's bid to recover RM656,233.69 in unpaid printing fees from PAS for past editions of its Harakah newspaper
According to the Bernama, the judgment was passed on 5 December by Judge Lailatul Zuraida Harron @ Harun after it was discovered that the political party had previously admitted to owing the sum in previous correspondence.
The court ordered the party to pay RM3,000 in costs to N.A.J Press Resources (M) Sdn Bhd in the e-Review proceedings.
A summary judgment occurs when a court makes its decision without going to trial or calling upon witnesses, relying only on written statements.
The defendants, PAS’ lawyer Mohd Faizi Che Abu, and PAS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, and Galeri Media Serbanika Sdn Bhd, confirmed that they were aware of the court’s decision, reported Harian Metro.
It is understood that the plaintiff applied for the summary judgment on 2 October.
The application was filed as the printing company had agreed to print PAS' mouthpiece, but only a partial payment of the total debt was made in October 2017
Based on the previous correspondence between PAS and the printing company, Judge Lailatul said that it was a clear admission of owed debt, and would thus be binding, reported FMT.
"The court believes that the defence raised is merely a bare denial, and the facts (raised) about another printing company not relevant to this claim are irrelevant and an attempt to mislead the court," she said.
In 2019, in a letter issued to PAS and Harakah, the printing company demanded RM3,053,204,59 in printing fees.
Takiyuddin has denied that his party had avoided making payments to the company.
