Seruan open to talks with Pahang

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KUANTAN: Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd is willing to discuss with the Pahang government ways to settle the RM63mil compensation awarded to it for a breach of contract.

However, its managing director Saiyeed Ali Al-Habsyee said so far there had been no communication from the state government.

Instead, he said, the state government was counter-suing them, adding that the matter would be heard early next month.

“We are prepared to reveal ‘shocking’ facts when the hearing comes up but that is a different matter altogether,” Saiyeed said when met after handing over a payment demand to Pahang state financial officer Datuk Norzan Ahmad here yesterday.

Saiyeed said the serving of a fresh certificate of demand was in response to the Court of Appeal ruling on Friday that Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob was wrongly named as respondent in the demand for the judgment sum.

He said they were, therefore, serving the new certificate to a public office bearer and in accordance with Section 33 (3) of the Government Proceedings Act.

“We will also file an appeal against the Appeal Court’s decision this week. However, as far as we are concerned, the sum owed to us is still valid and we urge the Pahang government to abide by the decision and issue payment within 14 days.”

Saiyeed said they were prepared to initiate contempt of court proceedings if the Pahang government refused to comply.

On April 20 this year, Adnan appealed against the Kuantan High Court decision ordering him to pay RM63mil to Seruan Gemilang.

On Dec 9, 2002, Seruan Gemilang had filed a suit against the Pahang government and state forestry director seeking RM31mil in damages for breaching a logging concession contract relating to the extraction of timber logs from a 4,040ha plot of land belonging to Umno in Bebar, Pekan.

On May 25, 2007, the High Court ordered the Pahang government to pay RM37,127,471.60, at 8% interest per annum from Dec 31, 2000.

The Pahang government and state forestry director applied for leave to appeal but this was rejected by the Court of Appeal. On Sept 17 last year, the Federal Court affirmed the Court of Appeal decision.