Tycoon Tajudin Ramli’s lawyer today admitted before the Court of Appeal President, Justice Md Raus Sharif, that negotiations were being held to settle the long legal battle between him and several government-linked corporations (GLCs) and companies, although lawyers representing the GLCs have denied this.

It is learnt this happened when the appeal went for case management today before Justice Md Raus in Putrajaya, where some 10 lawyers representing the GLCs, other companies and the government denied that such negotiations were taking place.

Sources indicated that Tajudin’s lawyer requested the lawyers representing the GLCs to respond to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department letter in August.

It us understood lawyers representing the GLCs and companies objected, and indicated it would be more appropriate for the tycoon to write in, detailing the proposed terms of settlement, for the GLCs to respond.

It is learnt Justice Md Raus agreed that if the minister would like the GLCs to come for negotiations, the minister should approach their (GLC) officers directly.

Following this disagreement and the shooting down of a possible out-of-court settlement, a source said the Court of Appeal has fixed three days beginning Feb 13 to hear the appeal.

Justice Md Raus, prior to his appointment as Court of Appeal President, was the managing judge for this case. Tajudin was represented by lawyer Lim Kian Leong.

Tajudin has been dangling the offer of a global settlement since October last year.

It is learnt there is a possibility that Tajudin may have gone behind the GLCs’ back in approaching certain people within the government with a view to selling his idea for a settlement.

NONE This resulted in Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz ( left ) issuing a letter dated Aug 8 advising the GLCs to go for a settlement.

Nazri in the letter had also asked the GLCs to appoint the firm of Umno lawyer Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak as their lawyer as part of the settlement agreement.

However, when Malaysiakini contacted Nazri, he denied that the letter is a directive but merely an advice to the GLCs.

Malaysian Airlines, Telekom Malaysia and Axiata Group Bhd, which manages Celcom, declared to Bursa Malaysia that same month that they have yet to receive any proposal for the global settlement.

The boards of directors of the GLCs also found that there was nothing before them to consider in order to reach a settlement.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had in 2009 ordered Tajudin to pay RM589 million to Pengurusan Danaharta Bhd, which manages outstanding debt.

It had also dismissed Tajudin’s RM13 billion counter claim against the GLCs and the government.