The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered a billboard advertising company and the BN to file certain documents as well as the list of issues which will be heard in the RM546 million suit the company has brought against the ruling coalition.

Syarikat Pentas Permata Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and BN were ordered to file among others documents like the common agreed bundle (matters agreed to by both parties) and common non-agreed bundle (matters that were not agreed on), list of witnesses involved and the nature of the relationship between the plaintiff and defendant.

Deputy Registrar Nur Yusliana Yusoff made the order in chambers after the case came up for case management before her.

Counsel for BN's Mohd Hafarizam Harun told reporters that Nur Yusliana had fixed Jan 26 for final case management to determine the trial dates.

On Dec 7, 2007, PPSB filed the suit against the BN for terminating a contract signed on Jan 5, 2006 for the supply and installation of outdoor advertising billboards to promote the BN for the upcoming general election.

BN claims action is against wrong party

The company, which was appointed as the agent to install the billboards for the BN, had named BN represented by its general officer Yaakob Mohammad as the defendant.

PPSB in its statement of claim, among others had alleged that according to the contract, the BN held the right to terminate it anytime within six months of its signing but the notice for the termination was issued after six months.

The company claimed that it suffered total losses of RM546,552,800 as a result of the action and is seeking restitution of the amount, costs, interest and other relief deemed fit by the court.

The BN in its affidavit-in-reply claimed that the termination of the contract was valid because PPSB failed to show any progress in the duties that were to be carried out by the company as per the terms of the contract.

It added that the BN was the wrong party to be sued and that the right channel was through its general officer.

This is not the first time that BN has been sued for non-payment of services relating to poll campaigns.

Another company, Elegant Advisory, has taken Umno to court last year to recover RM218 million of unpaid bills for campaign material it delivered to the party for use in the 2004 general election.

- Bernama

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