Tuan Ibrahim, Rafizi settle defamation suit out of court

Both former ministers agree to put aside the 'misunderstanding' in the interest of the public and political stability.

Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (left) sued Rafizi Ramli for claiming that the former federal minister had approved the award of a RM2 billion flood mitigation project to an Umno-linked company after the dissolution of Parliament.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Former environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has settled his defamation suit against Rafizi Ramli over allegations that he “approved” a RM2 billion project after the dissolution of Parliament in 2022.

Tuan Ibrahim’s lawyer Yusfarizal Yussoff told High Court judicial commissioner Avinder Singh Gill today that both parties had agreed to settle the matter out of court.

“Based on our discussions, the plaintiff has agreed to withdraw the claim without liberty to file afresh,” he said.

Rafizi’s lawyer, Azhar Arman Ali, confirmed the settlement, which was reached just before the trial was due to begin this week.

It had been scheduled to take place from Sept 8 to Sept 11 and Sept 29 to Sept 30.

In a joint statement, Tuan Ibrahim and Rafizi said they had chosen to put aside the “misunderstanding” in the interest of the public and political stability.

Tuan Ibrahim filed the suit in 2022, claiming that Rafizi had defamed him by suggesting that he had approved the award of a RM2 billion flood mitigation project to an Umno-linked company after the dissolution of Parliament.

Rafizi had claimed that the Sungai Langat barrier project was the second contract awarded to the same company within six months.

Tuan Ibrahim denied the allegation and challenged Rafizi to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. He also said that a caretaker government could not approve any financial allocations as this was against a Treasury circular. - FMT