KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has entered a memorandum of appearance in the RM150 million suit filed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad against him over his speech at an event in Shah Alam in March.
The memorandum was filed through law firm Messrs Thomas Philip yesterday.
The prime minister’s lawyer Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi, when contacted, confirmed the matter and said that case management has been set on May 31 before judicial commissioner Jamhirah Ali.
Dr Mahathir filed the suit through Messrs Law Practice of Rafique at the Shah Alam High Court on May 3, and named Anwar as the sole defendant.
In his statement of claim, Dr Mahathir claimed that, during an event dubbed “Kongres Nasional Khas Malaysia Madani: Pelaksanaan Sebuah Idealisme” at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam on March 18, Anwar had delivered a speech which contained several defamatory statements aimed at tarnishing the former prime minister’s reputation.
Dr Mahathir said this includes statements that he has amassed wealth for himself, his children, and family members, and had given special treatment or priority to high-ranking individuals.
The former two-time prime minister is seeking RM50 million in general damages and RM100 million in exemplary damages, as well as an apology and an order for Anwar to immediately retract all the defamatory remarks. – Bernama, May 17, 2023
