JOHOR POLLS | A PKR leader who contested in the Rengit state seat during the last general election has initiated legal action after he was not re-fielded in the constituency.
Among the people Malik Faishal Ahmad is suing is the candidate replacing him, namely Khairuddin A Rahim who had quit Amanah and joined PKR, and seven others.
In his letter of demand sighted by Malaysiakini, Malik claimed that they had cost him his candidacy by sending a "slanderous" memorandum to PKR party leadership.
The individuals had accused Malik (above) of possible corruption when he was part of the Batu Pahat Municipal Council during the Pakatan Harapan administration, an allegation he strongly denies.
"As a consequence of the slanderous accusations, my client has lost his opportunity to be selected as a candidate to contest the N25 Rengit state seat in the Johor state election, as has been promised to him," read the letter of demand sent through Malik's lawyer Manian K Marappan.
"The slanderous words against my client had become a public scandal, and caused him to be hated and insulted by his friends, acquaintances, and the public in Batu Pahat and Rengit, and the PKR leadership."
Based on documents sighted by Malaysiakini, the eight individuals had sent a memorandum to PKR top leaders alleging that certain leaders from PKR, Amanah, and Bersatu had taken bribes amounting to tens of thousands of ringgit from a contractor for a job approved by the Batu Pahat Municipal Council.
They told PKR leadership that Batu Pahat Pakatan Harapan cannot accept a person who is allegedly corrupt and without integrity to lead them and "what more to become an election candidate".
Malik, who was appointed as Rengit PKR coordinator last year, demanded that Khairuddin and seven others retract their statement and issue a public apology to him.
He is also demanding compensation from the named parties for damages he suffered from their statement, a quantum which is to be discussed and agreed upon.
They were given seven days from the date of the notice to respond.
'Asking for probe doesn't mean guilt'
Meanwhile, when contacted, Khairuddin confirmed he has received the letter of demand from Malik and he has referred the matter to his lawyer.
According to the former Amanah assemblyperson, he was only supporting a "friend" who wanted to report about the alleged corruption to the party in hopes of sparking an investigation.
"I only supported the investigation. Whatever the case may be or against anyone, I will always support the investigation to be carried out.
"But it does not mean that the individual accused in the report is already guilty.
"This is an internal problem, it's not like he is putting it out there. He (Malik) claimed that he was not fielded as a candidate because of this issue... I cannot comment because I also do not know if he was not chosen because of this or not," he said.
Khairuddin said he believes that the case, however, would not affect his campaign for the Rengit seat.
Malaysiakini understands that Malik was on the draft list of candidates which was supposed to be announced on Feb 14.
However, the announcements for Rengit and six other seats were postponed at the eleventh hour.
During the final candidates' announcement on Feb 19, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim instead announced Khairuddin as their candidate in Rengit.
Khairuddin was the incumbent assemblyperson in neighbouring Senggarang. - Mkini
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