This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 6, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, who is in the UK for medical treatment, is being sued for RM400 million by an individual, Zulkifli Kassim.

According to a legal notice in a local daily, Zulkifli from Kota Belud, Sabah, is also seeking 8% interest per year on the claim until it is settled, in addition to costs and any order the court may make.

The commercial suit, filed in the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in June, gives Musa 10 days from yesterday to file an appearance in court to defend himself.

It is understood that the notice is in lieu of the serving of the summons on Musa in person because he is not in the country.

A check with the online Sabah Law Courts Community and Advocates Portal showed that the case has been fixed for mention on July 19 before High Court Judge Ravinthran N  Paramaguru.

No details of the plaintiff or the subject matter of the suit were available at the time of publication.

Musa, who was the Sabah chief minister for three terms from 2003 to 2018, retained his Sungai Sibuga state seat in the 14th general election. A controversy erupted when he declared himself the chief minister after securing a simple majority in the state legislative assembly.

At the time, he was backed by Parti Solidariti that allowed him to form a coalition government but the tenure was shortlived. Upko, a constituent party in the coalition, quit Barisan Nasional to support Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Parti Warisan.

Shafie was sworn in as the chief minister on May 12 while Musa held on to the post, which meant that the state had two chief ministers.

A legal tussle between Musa and Mohd Shafie ensued with Musa filing a writ of summons against Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Shafie seeking a declaration that he is the legitimate chief minister of the state.

Juhar then lodged a police report that he was intimidated by Musa. The case is being investigated by the police.

However, Musa left the state and recently issued a statement that he is in the UK where he said he was seeking medical treatment.

Police have sent a request to Interpol to issue a red notice for Musa to return to Malaysia so that they can complete the investigation into the criminal intimidation report.

Musa has yet to take his oath as a state assemblyman and has three months from June 11 to do so, failing which the seat would be declared vacant.