Former DAP vice-chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim today failed to strike out a defamation suit filed by former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir over an allegation of a secret pact between his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.
This came after Justice Nordin Hassan of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur made a ruling that a defamation suit should proceed to a full trial if the court deems the defendant's claim had lowered and adversely affected the plaintiff, and can be considered defamatory.
“This evidence should be presented in a trial. There are serious issues to be tried,” he added.
Justice Nordin further ordered Tunku Aziz, who is also MACC advisory board chairperson, to pay RM4,000 in costs.
The judge then fixed Jan 11, 12, 18 and 19 next year for the hearing of the case.
In his suit filed on Feb 7, Mukhriz (photo), who is Bersatu deputy president, claimed that Tunku Aziz had since December last year, accused Mahathir of offering Lim the post of deputy prime minister, if Mukhriz was made prime minister in the event of an opposition win in the upcoming 14th general election.
The allegation, Mukhriz claimed, suggested that he was involved in a secret pact, that he was not sincere and transparent politically, and that he had gone behind the backs of other opposition members in a "conspiracy" to appoint himself prime minister and Lim as the deputy prime minister.
Mukhriz added that Tunku Aziz’s statements also made him appear power-hungry and implied that he had betrayed the trust of the voters and people by concealing the purported plot.
He also claimed that Tunku Aziz's statements suggested that he does not have principles and morals, and that he is a politician who follows his father's directions.
Dr M and Lim may testify
It was reported that Tunku Aziz had filed a striking-out application on June 14, citing that there is no reasonable cause of action and that the suit is frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.
The parties subsequently filed their submissions on the striking-out application, followed by the decision today.
Mukhriz was represented by Haniff Khatri Abdulla and Ilyana Khuzsairi while Tunku Aziz was represented by Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos.
Haniff told reporters outside the court that besides Mukhriz, there are likely two other witnesses to be called to testify, namely Mahathir and Lim, as both their names are mentioned in the allegation.-Mkini
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