Charges against me were ‘premeditated political conspiracy’, says Anwar

 

Anwar Ibrahim is suing Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor for defaming him during a speech ahead of the 15th general election.

PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim claims that all criminal charges framed against him in the past were part of a premeditated political conspiracy.

The prime minister said it was an ignoble vendetta staged to remove him from holding public office and ruin his political career permanently.

“Evidence will be adduced to support the plaintiff’s (Anwar) indefatigable assertions of innocence at all material times,” an amended statement of claim filed by the PKR president on Monday states.

The court document was served this afternoon on Messrs Yusfarizal Aziz & Zaid, the solicitors representing Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor who is being sued for defaming Anwar by allegedly insinuating that he was immoral.

Anwar, the Pakatan Harapan chairman was appointed prime minister on Nov 24 and had formed a unity government with Barisan Nasional as well as regional parties from Sabah and Sarawak.

In the statement, Anwar said he was deputy prime minister and finance minister prior to Sept 2, and had an impeccable track record.

Anwar held the positions during Dr Mahathir Mohamed’s first stint as prime minister which ran from 1981 to 2003.

The statement said Anwar was unceremoniously and egregiously removed from both public offices by the powers that be in September 1998.

“Subsequently and consequently with specious motives, calculated to irreparably damage the plaintiff’s reputation and image, he was charged and prosecuted with several sham criminal offences.

“He was put on public trial on several occasions and found guilty on all the offences charged and sentenced to two bouts of imprisonment,” the statement added.

It said Anwar had consistently prior to his sacking from government and till date, “vigorously, unrelentingly and unswervingly maintained his innocence,” adding that all the charges against him were part of a “premeditated political conspiracy”.

The statement said it was precisely for those reasons that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Sultan Muhammad V) saw fit on May 16, 2018 to pardon Anwar and restore his image and reputation.

It said the King’s decree to order the pardon was “for the full and final extinguishment of all or any infamy against him” in respect of all three criminal offences for which he was convicted.

It said Sanusi had recklessly and having no regard to the impact and effect of the pardon, inflicted, repeated and rekindled this ghastly taint and pain of defamation on Anwar.

“Therefore, the plaintiff is entitled to pursue this (defamation) action and to prosecute the same with all vigour, to prevent future repetition by other unscrupulous persons,” it said.

In the suit, filed by Messrs SN Nair & Partners at the Alor Setar High Court on Dec 13, Anwar is seeking damages for libel and slander against Sanusi for damaging his reputation.

Sanusi allegedly made the remarks in a speech ahead of the 15th general election. Subsequently, a video of the speech was posted on Facebook.

Anwar said the King granted him a full pardon for his three convictions – one for abuse of power and two for sodomy – on the basis that there was a “miscarriage of justice”.

He said the pardon was also granted on the basis that there was a conspiracy to destroy his character. - FMT