Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak today withdrew his defamation suit against former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

The settlement of the suit was recorded before Judicial Commissioner Darryl Goon in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun said he has advised his client in light of the changed scenario in the country and that there are other pressing issues which had to be focused on.

"We agree to pay costs of RM25,000 to Ling," he said.

Hafarizam also affirmed that the suit was withdrawn with no liberty to file afresh after Ling also agreed to withdraw his counter-claim, with no liberty to file afresh.

The Umno-linked lawyer declined to reveal the fate of other suits that Najib had filed against other personalities.

"Wait. I will not be proper for me to reveal now," Hafarizam said.

Besides Ling, Najib had filed suits against Damansara MP Tony Pua (two suits), Rafizi Ramli, PAS journal Harakah and Malaysiakini.

Ling's lawyer Ranjit Singh said his client felt vindicated following the withdrawal of the suit amid the change of government.

"The general election result has vindicated Dr Ling as it shows that Najib is unfit to be PM," the lawyer said.

Ranjit added that the counter-claim by his client is withdrawn with no order as to costs.

Najib had sued Ling, a former transport minister, for defamation, following the latter's comments alleging that Najib had taken public funds and was unfit to lead the country.

Najib complained that the words uttered by Ling meant that he had abused his powers, was not qualified to be the leader of the government, that he was involved in a scandalous or financial conspiracy and that he was not fit to be the BN chairperson.

He said the words also meant that as the former BN chairperson, he had misappropriated or abused public funds for his personal interests and to gain wealth or that he had misappropriated government funds belonging to 1MDB and that he had betrayed the trust of the people by abusing his position.

Ling in his counter-claim said he had been made a scapegoat by Najib as the former prime minister did not file any action against his former deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, or against Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former MCA president had also applied to strike out the suit but this was dismissed by Justice Nor Bee Ariffin.