Lawyer Navpreet Singh, who represented PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail today, said Justice Akhtar Tahir maintained March 29 and 30 as the trial dates after Zuraida’s lawyer confirmed that she would not be pursuing an appeal to the Federal Court.

“The judge has now directed parties to comply with pretrial directions by Jan 30,” the lawyer told FMT after case management before Akhtar.

Lawyer Nurul Najwa Zainuddin represented Zuraida.

On Sept 6, the Court of Appeal dismissed Zuraida’s appeal against Akhtar’s refusal to strike out the suit, affirming that the legality and validity of the contract between PKR and Zuraida could only be determined at full trial.

Zuraida had a month from that date to file for leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision.

On Nov 19 last year, Akhtar dismissed Zuraida’s application to annul the suit which had been filed by the party on Sept 28, 2020.

In its statement of claim, PKR said Zuraida had signed a bond on April 25, 2018, binding her to pay RM10 million to the party as stated in the bond’s terms and conditions.

PKR said Zuraida was required to make the payment within seven days if she resigned from the party, joined any other political party or became an independent MP.

The party claimed that on Feb 24, 2020, Zuraida announced her resignation from the party without quitting as Ampang MP.

She eventually aided in the formation of a new political coalition known as Perikatan Nasional.