KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 29): Former International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Tanah Merah MP Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz have applied for the suit filed against them by UMNO for joining Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to be heard here instead of in the Kota Baru High Court.

Mustapa, who is also Jeli MP, and Ikmal filed the application earlier this week.

Their lawyer Ashok Kandiah confirmed the filing of the application at the Kota Baru High Court to theedgemarkets.com when contacted today.

“It was filed on Monday, as we want the matter to be heard together with UMNO's suit against former Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

The matter has been fixed for case management on Sept 10 in the Kota Baru High Court, said Ashok.

There is only one High Court judge in Kota Baru namely Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh.

It is understood that the reason for the application to transfer the case from Kota Baru to Kuala Lumpur to be heard together with Hamzah's matter is that Justice Wan Ahmad Farid is a former UMNO member.

The judge was the Deputy Home Minister in former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Cabinet.

It was previously reported that UMNO had earlier this month filed the suit against the trio, with two cases filed in the Kota Baru High Court and one in Kuala Lumpur after the leaders left UMNO to join Bersatu earlier this year.

The suit dated Aug 13 was filed on the grounds of breach of trust, breach of contract, unjust enrichment and legitimate expectations.

Former Attorney General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali is said to be acting for UMNO against the three of them.

Apandi, who was formerly a Federal Court judge and UMNO member from 1982 to 1991, is also the Umno disciplinary committee chairman.