Court strikes out suit against Muhyiddin by ex-Bersatu man

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has succeeded in striking out a defamation suit filed by former party member Mohd Anas Sudin.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad ruled that the suit was frivolous and vexatious, with no reasonable cause of action.

This was confirmed by Muhyiddin's lawyer Rosli Dahlan to reporters today.

"All claims of slander and allegations made against Muhyiddin at this point are unfounded," he said.

Justice Nik Hasmat also ordered Anas (photo) to pay RM5,000 in costs.

Anas, a former Bersatu Negeri Sembilan chief, filed the defamation suit last year after Muhyiddin claimed that he was a PKR member.

Anas, who was present in court, said that he would consult his lawyers on whether to file an appeal.

He was represented by lawyer Hazwan Mohd Nor.

Muhyiddin's lawyers had applied to strike out the suit on the grounds that it is trite slander and is not actionable per se unless there is proof of special damages which must be pleaded, caused by the natural, direct and reasonable result of the defendant's action.

In this case, Muhyiddin said it is not pleaded and hence it discloses no reasonable cause of action, making it frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.

It was reported that Anas had sought RM10 million from Muhyiddin who claimed that he (Anas) was a PKR member.

Anas said he was, instead, a leader in Umno and in Perkasa, prior to joining Bersatu in September 2016, and claimed the slander had affected his standing in the society as he had been accused of being a “lalang” (flip-flopper).

"I am very disappointed because I was with Umno for 30 years and I sacrificed this when I joined Bersatu. I don't have anything to do with PKR, so how could he accuse me of being a PKR member?"- Mkini