Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has filed an application to strike out the US$3.657 billion suit by former senator Mohd Ezam Md Noor against him over losses incurred by 1MDB.

Najib's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that the application to strike out the suit was served on Ezam's lawyers yesterday.

They have also filed an application for a stay of the proceedings pending their strike-out bid.

Justice Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad has also set the next case management on Aug 22.

Hafarizam said the other 15 defendants named in the suit, including 1MDB directors and former directors, have indicated that they will be filing similar applications by Aug 22.

Ezam had initially filed the suit against Najib, in his capacity as Finance Minister and chief executive of the government, and 15 others on April 14.

The other defendants include treasurer-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and two current and nine former 1MDB directors.

The present directors are Kamal Mohd Ali and Norazman Ayob while former directors' names are Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Ismee Ismail, Ong Gim Huat, Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, Ashvin Jethanand Valiram, Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman @ Mohamed, Mohd Bakke Salleh, Azlan Mohd Zainol and Tengku Rahimah Al-Marhum.

Ezam claimed that Najib and the nine former 1MDB directors had breached their fiduciary duties, accusing them of intentional causing “wrongful losses” of US$3.66 billion for 1MDB.

He said he filed the suit in his personal capacity as a taxpayer and to represent all Malaysians and pledged to return the compensation back to 1MDB and the government should the court rule in his favour in this case.