Dr M threatens to sue Puad for demanding return of Umno assets

 The former prime minister wants the Umno Supreme Council member to issue an apology and hold a press conference to explain his ‘mistake’.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave Umno’s Rengit assemblyman Puad Zarkashi seven days to issue an unconditional apology.

PETALING JAYA: 

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has threatened to sue Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi over the latter’s statement calling for the former prime minister to return the party’s assets.

Mahathir’s lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said a notice of demand had been issued over the statement Puad made on April 12.

“The deletion of the said writing and/or publication without any apology to Mahathir is insufficient and further action must be taken,” he said in a statement.

A check by FMT found that the statement is no longer available on Puad’s social media accounts.

Rafique said his client demanded Puad hold a press conference at Umno’s headquarters to announce his admission that the impugned statement was a mistake.

“At the proposed press conference, Puad must also state that he had falsely accused Mahathir of breach of trust, and that such an accusation is entirely untrue,” Rafique said.

He said Mahathir also asked for Puad to issue an unconditional apology along with an undertaking that he, his agents and/or any related party will refrain from making any further statements that might tarnish the former prime minister’s reputation.

“This apology and undertaking must be subject to the satisfaction and/or approval of my client and must be completed within seven days from the date of this notice,” he added.

Rafique said Mahathir reserved all rights to initiate legal proceedings in relation to the matter should it be deemed appropriate or necessary, including against other parties involved.

Mahathir, a former Umno president, yesterday said he released his trustee responsibilities over a 9,723 sq m plot of land in Kuala Lumpur to the party in 2015.

He also said that Umno’s filing of an originating summons seeking a court declaration to transfer ownership of the land to the party did not involve him. The Seri Pacific Hotel is located on the land.

Mahathir also said the originating summons filed by Umno’s executive secretary Sumali Reduan on March 6 had named the federal territories land and mines department as the defendant – and not him.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Friday said one individual, whom he did not name, had not signed documents to release his trustee responsibilities over party assets, while the others had done so.

The parcel of land, Grant 78154, Lot 40, Section 51, Kuala Lumpur, was registered under the names of four trustees – Mahathir, Musa Hitam, the late Daim Zainuddin, and the late Sanusi Junid – pursuant to Clause 27.1 of its constitution and Section 9 of the Societies Act 1966. - FMT