Halim Saad contended he was not given “any option or choice” in meetings with then prime minister Dr Mahahthir Mohamad that allegedly led to the businessperson being forced to relinquish his controlling stake in Renong Bhd in 2001.

In the plaintiff’s reply to Mahathir’s statement of defence against his lawsuit, Halim maintained his version of events of being compelled by the then prime minister and two others to accede to the sale of his stake...