This follows Justice Anand Ponnudurai’s refusal to agree to senior federal counsel Nurhafizza Azizan’s request to adjourn the trial for parties to explore settlement of the case out of court.

“It has been more than two years since this case started and parties had in the past asked for adjournment to settle the matter,” Anand said, noting that the case has seen six witnesses take the stand for the government and one for the defendant.

Now stationed in Penang, Anand, who had to return to hear the case, said any further adjournment will result in the trial only continuing in March or April next year.

“Whoever is giving instructions to settle the case must also know the court’s predicament. In the interest of the administration of justice, this case will start tomorrow,” he said.

The judge said the parties could come to an amicable settlement while the trial is on-going.

“If not, I will decide on the matter one way or the other,” he added,

The trial is scheduled for the entire week with NFC chairman Salleh Ismail set to take the stand.

On May 17 this year, Anand gave parties one final chance to settle the suit, failing which the trial will continue.

At the time, NFC lawyer K Kirubakaran made the application on the ground that the parties were in negotiations for a settlement. The application then was supported by senior federal counsel Asliza Ali.

FMT reported earlier this year that NFC and others had sent a letter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers seeking a “global settlement”.

NFC, Salleh, who is also the husband of former Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, their three children and six companies owned by the family were named as the defendants in the suit, filed in June 2019.

The total of RM253.62 million claimed against NFC and Salleh’s family represents the sum owed to the government, together with interest at 2% per annum and default interest on RM224.77 million.

Putrajaya is also seeking a declaration to hold Salleh’s family personally liable for repayment of a debt of RM118.04 million allegedly misappropriated from the loan.

It said it is also entitled to claim equitable interest in properties bought using NFC’s RM250 million loan from the government.

In 2007, the government approved a RM250 million loan to NFC to turn the local cattle industry into a large-scale business with the aim of helping Malaysia become self-sufficient in beef production.

In its defence, NFC said the repayment of the loan was very much dependent on the government making available the necessary infrastructure, including an export quality abattoir in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.

It said the government failed to do so after the project was suspended.

Further, whatever property invested or purchased from part of the loan sum was also seized, NFC added.