KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has highlighted an RM214-million fibre optic contract awarded to a company whose board included members of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s family in his defence statement to a defamation suit by the former two-time prime minister.
The prime minister’s statement of defence, filed at the Shah Alam High Court through law firm Thomas Philip and reported by The Malaysian Insight, said Mahathir had used his position as prime minister and finance minister to award the contract to Opcom Cables Sdn Bhd in 2003.
Mahathir has filed an RM150-million defamation suit against Anwar over statements that allegedly tarnished the nonagenarian’s reputation.
Anwar in his statement of defence said that on September 15, 2003, Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) issued a letter to the Finance Ministry (MoF) to request approval to conduct direct negotiations with Opcom for the supply of fibre optic cables worth RM214.2 million.
He noted that TM is a government-linked company whereby Minister of Finance Inc holds the golden share.
Anwar’s defence statement also said that on October 7, 2003, MoF approved TM’s request to hold direct negotiations with Opcom.
The material time of the approval was prior to Mahathir’s resignation as prime minister in late October 2003. He announced his intention to resign more than a year prior to that, in June 2022 at the Umno general assembly.
TM proceeded to appoint Opcom for the contract at the price of RM214.2 million through a letter of award dated November 17, 2003.
Anwar’s statement also said Mahathir’s family members stood to benefit from the contract, as the latter’s sons Mirzan, Mokhzani, and Mukhriz were Opcom directors at the time. Mukhriz’s wife, Norzieta Zakaria, was also a director.
Mahathir filed his defamation suit against Anwar on May 3 over statements made in a speech on March 18 at the Kongres Nasional Khas: Malaysia Madani event.
Anwar allegedly tarnished Mahathir’s reputation with statements that the plaintiff had amassed wealth for himself, his children, and family members, and had given special treatment or priority to high-ranking individuals.
Mahathir 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. – The Vibes, June 15, 2023
