Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s lawyers have explained that the MB cannot disclose the details of his out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam, as the bank has yet to give consent for disclosure.

"As Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s lawyers, we are aware of the terms of the settlement, but the terms are intended to be confidential between the parties.

"That any specific disclosures of the terms must be with the consent of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, which we do not have," lawyer Mathew Thomas Philip said in a statement late yesterday.

The MB's lawyers have written to the bank for consent but has yet to receive a reply.

Mathew, however, disclosed that the controversial settlement was not something which was arrived at at the last minute.

He said that it was considered as early as 2007 and that the final settlement was within the range the lawyers had advised the MB as reasonable.

MB was plaintiff

He also stressed that the MB was the one who initiated the legal action against Bank Islam, over the “wrongful sale” of Guthrie shares, making him the plaintiff.

The bank made a counter-claim. 

The case went to trial after the Court of Appeal felt there are issues which should be determined in full trial, he said.

The statement was issued after PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad made public the details of his meeting with the MB’s lawyers, Mathew and Derek Fernandez
.

Fernandez is, however, not representing the MB in the Bank Islam case but on separate matters.

Mathew said the meeting with Khalid Samad was on the MB’s instructions to clear up suspicions over the out-of-court settlement, which was among the key issues raised by PKR against the MB.

Khalid Samad had later called a press conference to say that the meeting was unhelpful.

MB's lawyer clarifies report on Bank Islam issue