A DAY OF JUSTICE FOR THOSE SARIFUDDIN TRAMPLED ON WITH IMPUNITY: NAJIB’S PRESS-SEC FOR 27 YEARS QUICKLY RETIRES AFTER HELMING ANTI-DR M ATTACKS, ‘EVIL PLOT BY 3 Ms’ TO UNSEAT NAJIB – ONCE SO POWERFUL, SARIFUDDIN NOW APOLOGIZES TO MUKHRIZ, PROMISES TO NEVER TO DO IT AGAIN

A DEFAMATION suit filed by Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir against former prime minister Najib Razak’s press secretary, Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad, was settled today after the latter apologised.

Tengku Sarifuddin, 56, in his statement of apology that he read before judge Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, said he regretted the negative implications faced by Mukhriz as a result of the media statements he issued and promised not to do it again.

He also withdrew the statements concerned and contents therein.

“I apologise to Mukhriz Mahathir for issuing the media statements concerned where the contents were not accurate and could be misunderstood  ,” he said.

Present at the proceedings held in chambers were Tengku Sarifuddin’s lawyer, Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, and lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdullah, representing Mukhriz.

Tengku Sarifuddin also congratulated Mukhriz on his appointment as Kedah menteri besar and said he prayed Mukhriz would perform his duty and responsibilities to the people of Kedah and Malaysians well, with the huge mandate given by the people.

“I hope he can accept my apology for issuing the media statements concerned and the contents therein,” he added.

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After the proceedings, Tengku Sarifuddin, who has since retired, also thanked the lawyers and others present.

Mukhriz, 53, filed the suit on May 3, 2016, saying that Tengku Sarifuddin had issued four libellous media statements against him on April 15, 20, 23 and 26 that same year.

They were statements were titled Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Statement on Donation Confirmation by Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister; Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Statement on Former DPM’s Reuters Interview; Mukhriz Mahathir Statement: Response by Prime Minister’s Press Secretary; and, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Statement on Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Mukhriz Mahathir.

Mukhriz said the statements implied that he was directly involved with his father, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Muhyiddin Yassin’s bid to topple a democratically elected government.

Tengku Sarifuddin, in his defence statement filed on June 14, 2016, denied that the statements had disparaged Mukhriz and stressed that the statements were to explain and counter false accusations against Najib.

The defendant had said he bore no malice in issuing the media statements that were published in the interest of the Malaysian people.

– Bernama