Mahfuz mulls contempt action against Sanusi

Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar will consider initiating contempt proceedings against Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over the latter's move to repost a defamatory statement on Facebook.

When contacted, Mahfuz (above, left) said he will instruct his lawyer to review the appropriate action to be taken in response to the situation.

"I will ask my lawyer to review (to start contempt proceedings), whether it is reasonable for me to take action and other matters," he told Malaysiakini.

The former Pokok Sena MP said this when asked for comments on Sanusi's move to repost a defamatory statement made against him, after losing in court yesterday.

His latest post, in which Sanusi stressed that PAS “walked the talk”, was in response to yesterday’s Court of Appeal decision for him to pay an increased sum of RM120,000 in damages to Mahfuz.

“This is the posting for which I was found to be in the wrong and the High Court ordered me to pay RM50,000 in damages (and RM15,000 in cost). The Court of Appeal then increased (the quantum) to RM120,000 because the plaintiff (Mahfuz) felt that RM50,000 is too low.

“They (the plaintiff) made a counter-appeal for a higher sum,” he added.

Mahfuz had filed a suit against Sanusi in 2019 over the Facebook post (below), which had linked him to the transfer of a Sports Toto outlet in Pokok Sena, Kedah.

Commenting further, Mahfuz said Sanusi's move clearly showed the PAS leader's unhappiness with the court's decision.

"I was quite surprised when I saw Sanusi's posting on what had led him to be sued.

"I view the action as clearly showing his unhappiness with the court's decision. His way of posting implies that was the statement that had led to the court's judgment.

"The main issue here is that he had defamed me [...]," he stressed.

In a parting jab at Sanusi, Mahfuz said he was confident that the verdict in his favour would reaffirm the public's perception that the Kedah menteri besar is the "state's number one slanderer".- Mkini