[UPDATED] Sanusi stands by words against Anwar, yet to receive summons

KUALA LUMPUR – Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor stood by parts of his campaign speech that allegedly defamed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Responding to a letter of demand issued on November 16 by Anwar, Sanusi, through law firm Messrs Yusfarizal Aziz & Zaid, pinned the blame on online news portal Malaysiakini for the article containing his remarks.

Sanusi’s letter in response to Anwar, dated December 12, was shared with The Vibes.

“The news article published by Malaysiakini titled ‘Kes liwat Anwar: Dulu kesian sungguh, sekarang PAS kata kena ‘pikiaq’’ dated November 14 and the video posted to Malaysiakini’s official YouTube account is not within our client’s control,.

“As such, if there is any ‘olahan’ (narration), additional facts or comments that could lead to elements of defamation, was made by Malaysiakini and is not in our client’s control,” according to Sanusi’s written reply.

Sanusi told The Vibes that he has yet to receive the notice of summons.

Meanwhile, Sanusi’s reply letter asserted that Anwar’s letter of demand did not clearly state which of the remarks were slanderous and had caused offence to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman. 

“If the purported defamatory words relate to the criminal cases and misdeeds by (Anwar), then our client denies the accusation,” said Sanusi’s letter. 

“Our client, through his speech, had notified the public about past events which are already public knowledge. 

“Just because (Anwar) has been pardoned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, this does not prevent any parties from mentioning facts and history involving (Anwar),” the letter said, referring to the royal pardon Anwar had received in 2018 for his sodomy charges. 

It was reported earlier today that Anwar, who is also Tambun MP, is seeking legal action against Sanusi for supposedly defamatory comments he had made during a 15th general election (GE15) campaign speech in Tambun, Perak. 

Also present at the ceramah were Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Perak PN state chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and other Perak PN election candidates.

During the ceramah, PN leaders had lambasted Anwar’s credibility, saying he was not suited to be prime minister. 

Besides that, Anwar has also filed a separate defamation suit against Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria, with case management set for January 1 at the Taiping High Court.

Based on his statement of claim, Anwar as plaintiff claimed that on November 6, the defendant made a speech while campaigning for GE15 at the Tebuk Pancur night market, which was broadcast live on the defendant’s Facebook under the username “Haji Razman Zakaria” and was viewed over 94,400 times, received over 5,100 reactions, 429 shares and over 2,600 comments at press time.

Anwar also claimed that the defamatory statements and published article brought the meaning that he was a liar, practised and supported communist ideology, and encouraged same-gender marriage. – The Vibes, December 13, 2022