TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called for the expediting of the RM150 million defamation suit he filed against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, expressing a strong desire to clear his name as soon as possible.
The former two-time Prime Minister, now 100 years old, remarked that the case had been delayed for far too long.
“Actually, Anwar requested a two-week postponement and I agreed. But now, it has been two years and the trial will only be held on the 21st, 23rd, and 29th of October. I have been waiting for a long time. I am already advanced in age,” he said during a press conference following case management proceedings before High Court Judicial Commissioner Datuk Donald Joseph Franklin.
Dr Mahathir, a former Langkawi MP, noted that while it is unusual for clients to attend case management sessions, he felt compelled to be present due to a recent change in the presiding judicial commissioner.
“At the last minute, there was a change of the previous judicial commissioner who was transferred elsewhere, and the current commissioner assigned to hear this case is new. So, I feel the current judicial commissioner needs time to study the case,” he explained.
Wearing a grey suit, Dr Mahathir arrived at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Court Complex at approximately 10:30 am and entered the courtroom at 11:05 am. Security was tightened with the main entrance restricted to those with court business, and police, including a bomb disposal unit, conducted checks prior to the hearing.
During the roughly 20-minute proceedings, Dr Mahathir sat in the front row of the public gallery accompanied by his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
His lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, applied to vacate the two trial dates scheduled to begin the following day and proposed new dates, citing unresolved issues and pending submission of additional documents.
“I have filed a certificate of urgency to expedite the trial and I request the court to consider my client’s age. I seek an earlier date. If I may be bold, I suggest the last week of September or mid-October,” he said.
Anwar’s lawyer, Ranjit Singh, did not object and acknowledged the reasonableness of Dr Mahathir’s request given his advanced age.
The judicial commissioner subsequently set the trial dates for 21, 23, and 29 October, which were agreed upon by both parties.
He also ordered all parties to file witness statements by 7 October and scheduled the final case management for 8 October.
In the defamation suit, Dr Mahathir alleges that Anwar tarnished his reputation by accusing him of racism and enriching himself and his family during his 22 years as Prime Minister.
He is seeking RM100 million in exemplary damages, RM50 million in general damages, a written apology, and a special press conference where Anwar formally apologises for his statements. - August 18, 2025
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