Lawyer Shahrul Fazli Kamaruzaman, who appeared for Umno, said judicial commissioner Quay Chew Soon held that there were issues that need to be determined during a trial.

However, he said the judge granted an interim stay for Umno not to file its defence pending an appeal.

Quay delivered his ruling during virtual proceedings today.

He also allowed SRC International’s application to amend its statement of claim to substitute the words “chairman” and “chief secretary of Umno” to “executive secretary of Umno, Mohd Sumali Reduan, a public officer”.

In May, SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB, had filed the suit under its new management against Umno, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd.

It is suing Umno to recover the RM16 million said to have been wrongfully transferred to the party.

It claimed Umno knew or ought to have known that the money belonged to SRC International and it had no basis to receive the funds.

Lawyer Nur Syafinaz Vani Abdullah represented the plaintiffs.