The High Court sitting in Kuala Terengganu has given Kuala Terengganu MP Ahmad Amzad Hashim until Feb 6 to file his statement of defence against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s defamation suit.
The Harapan chairperson’s counsel Sankara Nair confirmed today that this was the outcome following the case management of Anwar’s civil action.
“The court instructs the defendant to file his defence latest by Feb 6, with the next case management fixed on the same date by way of e-review before the deputy registrar for status updates and further directions,” the lawyer informed the media.
Tambun MP Anwar was also represented by counsel Jaden Phoon Wai Ken and Wong Guo Jin, while lawyer Saiffuddin Othman appeared for Ahmad Amzad (above).
On Dec 22, last year, PKR president Anwar filed a civil action over Ahmad Amzad’s alleged remarks that the former lied about earning an RM1 salary when Anwar was Selangor’s economic adviser.
In Anwar’s statement of claim, he said Ahmad Amzad had made several statements to a group of customers while dining at a restaurant on Dec 7.
The plaintiff claimed that the PAS lawmaker’s statement was republished on TikTok by a user by the name of @nelly3868 on the same day and it received over 4,980 views, 62 comments, 116 likes, 18 favourites and 50 shares.
‘Anwar had RM15 million in claims’
In the video, Ahmad Amzad implied that while it may be true that Anwar was paid a symbolic RM1 per annum during his time as Selangor’s economic adviser, Anwar had RM15 million in claims.
Ahmad Amzad also allegedly commented on the royal pardons granted to Anwar in 2018 over his three convictions - one for abuse of power and two for sodomy - that were granted on the basis there was a “miscarriage of justice”.
The allegation that Anwar received RM15 million for serving as Selangor’s economic adviser was previously made by Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin during the PN Grand Finale Ceramah on Dec 5, in the run-up to the Padang Serai election.
The Selangor Menteri Besar’s office refuted the claims of Anwar receiving RM15 million to serve as the state’s economic adviser, adding that Anwar was only paid a symbolic RM1 per month during the advisory stint.
Anwar had on Dec 8 sent a letter of demand to Ahmad Amzad over the latter’s allegedly defamatory and slanderous statements, in which the former had asked for an unqualified apology.
Anwar seeks damages and injunction
In Anwar’s statement of claim, he asserted, among others, that Ahmad Amzad’s statements had included defamatory words that are slanderous, false and disparaging.
The plaintiff claimed that the defendant’s statements brought about the meaning that Anwar could not be trusted and is dishonest about receiving millions of ringgit from the Selangor government when he held the state post, as well as deceiving the public by stating he received a salary of RM1 as an economic adviser.
Through the civil action, Anwar seeks general, compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages, and an injunction to restrain the defendant from further uttering or publishing the allegation.
The plaintiff is seeking five percent interest on the judgment sum from the date of the action accrued until the date of full settlement.
Anwar is also seeking costs and any other relief deemed fit by the court. - Mkini
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