KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has filed an affidavit on Thursday (Jan 20) to stop an attempt by former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas (pictured) and the government to strike out the suit filed against them last October.

In a press statement on the filing of the affidavit, the Pekan Member of Parliament and sixth prime minister said their attempt to strike out his claim was intended to prevent their wrongdoings against him from being shared in open court.

“That, Tan Sri Tommy Thomas’ particular averment, in his affidavit, is iniquitous. He averred that the Federal Constitution’s stipulation that ‘all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of the law’ does not apply to himself as far as the prosecutions against me are concerned.

“Am I not too afforded equal protection as other Malaysians?,” he asked in a statement over the affidavit that was filed.

According to Najib, he filed an affidavit in response to Thomas and the government's striking out application for this reason.

Najib added that the facts he relied on further are contained in the affidavit which was filed on Thursday (Jan 20).

Meanwhile, Najib's counsel Yudistra Darma Dorai told theedgemarkets.com that the suit is not a rehash of the criminal proceedings.

“Not one bit. It's not an attempt to acquit Datuk Seri Najib in the civil courts. It's simply based on alleged wrongdoings of Tan Sri Tommy Thomas. That's all. The facts opposing the application to strike out are in my client's affidavit,” he said in response.

A case management of the suit was held on Wednesday (Jan 19) at the High Court, where it is fixed for further case management on March 1,

It was previously reported that Thomas and the government have filed an application to strike out the suit on Nov 18, as they claimed that the former premier's legal action was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.

“The action (by Najib) is obviously unsustainable and ought to be struck out by the High Court,” the application by the government and Thomas said.

Thomas also said in the affidavit in support of the striking out application that Najib filed the suit in order to gain political mileage following the lead up to the Malacca state elections.

Najib is suing Thomas and the government over charges brought against him in criminal cases linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd. He alleged that the charges against him were part of a “long planned, premeditated exercise by Thomas” and the then Pakatan Harapan government.

“As attorney-general he carried out his duties, at least in relation to Najib, as if he were an agent of Pakatan Harapan. In fact, he would later go on to link Najib’s political party Umno with Najib himself, the Malay race and a drive to Islamisation,” the statement of claim read.

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