Former Nenggiri assemblyman Azizi Abu Naim withdrew his lawsuit challenging the cessation of his membership in Bersatu at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.
Azizi’s lawyer, Nur Irdina Syahirah Wardi, informed Justice Roz Mawar Rozain the suit had become academic following the recent Nenggiri by-election, which saw the election of a new assemblyman, Bernama reported.
The defendants, including Kelantan state assembly speaker Amar Nik Abdullah, represented by counsel Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, then applied for RM250,000 in costs, citing the case’s complexity and its wider implications for the legislative body.
Counsel Chetan Jethwani, appearing for Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and then secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, who were also named as defendants, similarly sought RM250,000 in costs for his clients.
“This lawsuit has no merit and would ultimately fail. This is evidenced by the withdrawal of the suit,” said Chetan.
Roz Mawar struck out the suit and ordered Azizi to pay RM50,000 each in costs to Amar, Muhyiddin and Hamzah.
Azizi, the Gua Musang MP, is one of six Bersatu MPs who pledged support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He was allowed to retain his parliamentary seat after Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul rejected a request by Bersatu to have that seat vacated.
In his suit, filed in June last year, Azizi contended that an amendment to Clause 10 of Bersatu’s constitution was unconstitutional and should be struck down by the court.
The clause stipulates that a party member’s membership will cease if he supports a political rival.
