Umno president Najib Abdul Razak and the party’s executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh have filed an application to strike out former Langkawi Wanita Umno member Anina Saadudin's suit.

Contacted by Malaysiakini today, their lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun confirmed that the application had been filed, but refused to divulge further details.

It is understood the application was filed with the High Court in Kuala Lumpur through the legal firm of Hafarizam Wan Aisha and Mubarak yesterday.

Najib's lawyers had indicated in court yesterday, when the matter came up for case management, that their clients would move to strike out the suit and seek a stay of proceedings, pending the hearing of the application.

Yesterday it was reported that High Court senior assistant registrar Norfauzani Mohd Nordin had asked Najib and Abdul Rauf to file their defence to Anina’s suit by Oct 1.

Anina’s suit concerns the RM2.5 billion allegedly deposited in his personal accounts for the benefit of the party.

Also ordered to file affidavits-in-reply

At the same time, Najib and Abdul Rauf have also been asked by the court to file their affidavits-in-reply to Anina’s application for a mareva injunction to freeze Najib’s assets, and a judgment of admission on the Umno president, which was filed on Friday, by Oct 6.

The court also fixed Oct 26 as the next date for case management, before Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab.

The Langkawi Umno member’s suit named Najib and Abdul Rauf as respondents, and sought that the Umno president return the balance of the RM2.6 billion.

Anina ( photo ) is also seeking an injunction against them or their agents in the disciplinary board, state liaison body, divisions and branches to be restrained from removing, suspending and taking disciplinary action on her, pending the disposal of this action.

She is also seeking a repayment amounting to US$650 million - the amount reportedly deposited by Najib in a Singapore bank - and an account of all monies that he had received in the form of donations.

Last Friday, Anina filed a mareva injunction to freeze Najib’s assets and also a judgment of admission on one of the declarations she had sought - that the RM2.6 billion is a political donation.

Najib admitted that it was a donation after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission made its findings as such to the public.

If a judgment on admission is given, the matter need not be resolved through a proper trial, wher witnesses are called to testify.