Anwar hauls Pendang MP to court for alleged defamation

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has hauled Pendang MP Awang Hashim to court over purported defamation.

The Pakatan Harapan chairperson’s counsel Sankara Nair filed the defamation suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

The civil action is over two allegations - the accusation that the Tambun MP is more vindictive than former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and the claim over the legitimacy of Anwar’s appointment as the 10th prime minister.

According to a copy of the statement of claim, plaintiff Anwar claimed that defendant Awang (above, left) made the allegedly defamatory statements to the media at the lobby of Parliament on Feb 21.

The plaintiff claimed that the statements were defamatory as they implied, among others, that he had abused his power as prime minister and finance minister to meddle in Malaysia’s law enforcement and prosecution agencies for personal political agenda and other personal purposes.

Anwar also alleged that the words, among others, implied that he had deceived Malaysians and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with regard to the number of parliamentarians that supported him to gain a majority in Parliament.

The PKR president claimed that despite having issued letters of demand on Feb 21, 24, and 28 for the PAS leader to retract, apologise, and pay damages among others, the latter allegedly replied via letters on Feb 27 and March 2 to refute the former’s demands.

In seeking general, compensatory, aggravated, and exemplary damages in the suit, Anwar claimed that Awang had during a parliamentary session on Feb 27, in defiance and without repentance, uttered several other words including that Anwar was “Bapa Saman Negara” (the Nation’s Father of Suits).

However, the remarks made during the Dewan Rakyat proceedings are protected under the concept of absolute privilege and do not form the cause of action in Anwar’s present civil action.

The plaintiff seeks an injunction to restrain the defendant from further publishing the alleged defamatory words, 5 percent interest on the sum that may be awarded by the court calculated from the date of judgment to full settlement, costs, and any other relief the court deems fit.

Awang told Malaysiakini this afternoon that he has yet to receive information on the matter. - Mkini