Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has today denied he called any meeting with government-linked corporations (GLCs) like Telekom Malaysia Bhd over the Tajudin Ramli saga.

NONE "Check your facts, check your source. I did not meet Telekom Malaysia chief executive officer Zamzamraini Mohd Isa on Tuesday.

"Please call Zamzamraini to clarify," he told Malaysiakini .

"I have not even called for a meeting with the GLCs. Why should I call them since this does not involve my portfolio and this does not involve me," he said.

He denied further of any involvement on the Tajudin matter.

Nazri was responding to claims that he had called for a meeting with Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s chief executive officer Zamzamraini on Tuesday and possibly with other GLCs.

This follows claims that the meeting could be a prelude with other possible meeting with GLCs which have cases against Tajudin.

A source had earlier told Malaysiakini of the possibility of such a meeting and remarked that direct cabinet involvement in such corporate issues is considered rare and strange.

"It is highly unusual for a government minister to seek a meeting with the private sector or a GLC to settle a dispute involving a third party, since Tajudin is not a civil servant for the government to intervene on his behalf," said a source familiar with the GLCs involved.

Source claims meeting called off

It is learnt that Telekom has informed other GLCs involved of this meeting.

azlan The source claimed that Nazri had called off the meeting at the eleventh hour for unknown reasons, but there appears to be enough evidence to suggest that his meeting with Zamzamraini was at least scheduled.

A high-ranking TM official, who requested anonymity, and Zamzamraini’s personal assistant both refused to confirm if the meet was scheduled.

In August, Nazri had told Malaysiakini that his previous letter to the GLCs was merely "an advice" and that he had got the clearance from Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah to do so.

The letter had also asked GLCs involved in the dispute to appoint Umno-linked law firm Hafarizam Wan & Aishah Mubarak to replace their existing lawyers.

Possible last-ditch effort

Following Nazri’s Aug 8 letter, several GLCs, including TM, Malaysia Airlines and Axiata Group Bhd, which manages Celcom, declared to Bursa Malaysia on Aug 16 that they had yet to receive any proposal regarding a global settlement with Tajudin.

tajudin ramli Tajudin ( left ) has been dangling the idea of a global settlement to resolve the long-standing dispute since October last year, when his lawyers put forward the idea. Some see this as a delaying tactic in avoiding paying the debt.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had in 2009 ordered Tajudin to pay RM589 million of his debts to Pengurusan Danaharta Bhd after Justice Anantham Kasinater had also struck out the former Malaysia Airlines chairperson’s RM13 billion counter-claim.

Tajudin had defaulted on a loan of RM1.79 billion which he took from several banks to gain control of a less than 30 percent stake in MAS.

His loan became non-performing between 1994 and 1998, resulting in the legal action, resulting in him being ordered to pay up.

Umno lawyer will keep all informed

Another source had in August confirmed that there was time for Tajudin to actually negotiate a settlement when the issue of Nazri’s letter first came up.

The source also said that since the action was initiated six years ago, Tajudin had not even paid 10 sen.

On Aug 24, several GLC boards of directors announced to Bursa Malaysia that there was nothing before them to consider in order to reach a settlement with Tajudin.

perak state govt crisis 030309 hafarizam harun The terms of the global settlement remain a mystery to most of these GLCs. What is more astonishing is that it was indicated to these GLCs that they would only be informed of the terms of settlement after they appoint the firm of Hafarizam Wan & Aishah Mubarak to represent them.

Law firm partner Mohd Hafarizam Harun ( left ), when met by Malaysiakini on Monday, said he would keep all parties informed if he is appointed counsel for the GLCs against Tajudin.

In early 2000, MAS lodged police reports against Tajudin, but no action had been taken despite former Commercial Crime Investigation director Ramli Yusuff having recommended to former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006 that Tajudin should be prosecuted.

There have also been no further developments regarding reports made to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission by MAS.

Additional reporting by S Pathmawathy.