KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has dismissed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s RM200mil defamation claim regarding the Felda debt waiver issue as “merepek” (ridiculous). The Perikatan Nasional chairman stated that Anwar’s lawsuit would constitute an abuse of the court process if filed in court.
These statements were provided in Muhyiddin’s response to Anwar’s letter of demand (LOD) dated July 21, which was sent through the law firm Messrs SN Nair & Partners.
In his response filed on July 24 through Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership, the former prime minister and Bersatu president firmly denied all the allegations made in Anwar’s letter on July 21.
Muhyiddin’s response emphasized that Anwar had misunderstood the Felda debt waiver issue, as the document and press release by the Finance Ministry (both dated July 20) concerned sukuk and not the Felda debt waiver.
“Your client (Anwar) still refuses to retract the defamatory statement and attempts to distort the issue,” stated the letter.
The law firm also confirmed that they have been instructed to take legal action against Anwar.
On July 18, Muhyiddin sent a LOD to Anwar, seeking an apology and retraction for claiming that he did not implement a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers.
Muhyiddin’s LOD gave Anwar 24 hours to comply, warning that if he failed to do so, his lawyers would initiate a defamation lawsuit against the Prime Minister.
Muhyiddin also demanded that Anwar publicly and unconditionally apologize on his Facebook account and other platforms.
In his reply on July 21, Anwar argued that it was a “misconception” by Muhyiddin to presume that he had not responded to the demands within the 24-hour timeframe, as Anwar had already responded through a media statement on Facebook dated July 20.
“Whether the response was made through a Facebook post, solicitors, or both, it is irrelevant in law or procedure,” stated Anwar in his LOD.
In his LOD, Anwar demanded an apology, RM200mil in damages, the retraction of Muhyiddin’s LOD, all defamatory statements, and legal costs.
Anwar granted Muhyiddin a 24-hour period to comply with his demands, warning that failure to do so would result in legal action being initiated against the Pagoh MP.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
