Anwar, Muhyiddin settle defamation suits

June 15, 2024

Anwar, Muhyiddin settle defamation suits

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin have agreed to settle their defamation suits against each other.

They said the decision was made after taking into account the advice of the High Court judge and the impact of the suits on the public.

A joint statement posted on both of their Facebook pages said the decision to settle the suits was also made due to the “current state of the country, especially matters concerning the rakyat’s welfare”.

“We have agreed to cease our personal disputes and the proceedings at the Kuala Lumpur High Court,” said the statement.

In the joint statement, Anwar and former prime minister Muhyiddin hoped their decision would be respected by all parties, adding that they have also agreed not to issue any further statements regarding the suits.

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Expressing their appreciation to the High Court judge and court officials involved in the suits, the veteran politicians also hoped the matter would not affect the public’s confidence in the judiciary.

Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar had filed his suit against Muhyiddin for allegedly saying that he received a salary of RM15 million during his time as Selangor’s economic adviser.

The PKR president said that on Dec 5, 2022, Bersatu president Muhyiddin made the statement when speaking at a PN ceramah in front of hundreds of people in Taman Selasih, Kulim, in support of PN candidate Azman Nasrudin ahead of the 15th general election.

Citing qualified privilege and fair comment, Muhyiddin denied that the impugned slanderous or libellous words were defamatory, adding that they consisted of expressions of opinion, which were fair comments on a matter of public interest.

Muhyiddin said he was provided with information that Anwar was paid RM15 million by an unnamed officer in the Selangor government.

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Anwar sought general, aggravated, exemplary and compensatory damages, among others, from Muhyiddin, in addition to an injunction to restrain him from continuing to publish or disseminate similar defamatory statements.

Muhyiddin’s suit concerned an allegation that his administration had failed to write off RM8.3 billion in settlers’ debt as promised.

He said Anwar’s remarks implied that Muhyiddin had “lied” about the Felda settlers’ debt waiver, the PN chairman said.

Muhyiddin sought RM400 million in exemplary and aggravated damages, on top of an unspecified sum in general damages.

Anwar previously alleged that the PN government had failed to provide an allocation in the 2021 and 2022 national budgets to resolve the Felda debt issue.

He said it was only in his government’s 2023 budget that RM990 million was set aside as an initial tranche towards resolving the debt.