In Petaling Jaya, a letter of demand has been issued to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, requesting an unconditional open apology and retraction of statements regarding the Felda settlers debt cancellation. Failure to comply may result in legal action.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the former prime minister, has authorized law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership (RDS) to send the letter on his behalf.
RDS claims that Anwar’s statement about the debts not being cancelled during Perikatan’s administration is slanderous and lacks factual basis, intended to damage Muhyiddin’s reputation.
RDS also alleges that Anwar made defamatory and misleading statements during the Felda Settlers Day 2023 event in Serdang, which was streamed live on Facebook and watched 63,900 times.
On July 8, Muhyiddin responded to Anwar’s false statement through his Facebook account. However, Anwar continued to slander him during a dialogue in Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Muhyiddin’s solicitors argue that Anwar’s statement has tarnished their client’s good name, reputation, and integrity as a former prime minister and national leader. They claim that it has also eroded public trust and caused damage and prejudice to Muhyiddin and his family.
The solicitors have demanded that Anwar provide documentation proving his approval as Finance Minister for the disposal of Felda settlers’ debt worth RM8.3bil. Failure to comply with these demands may result in legal action.
Previously, Muhyiddin had stated that RM8.3bil of Felda settlers’ total debt of RM12.1bil was waived in 2021, as confirmed by former Felda chairman Tan Sri Idris Jusoh. This decision had a significant impact on Felda’s cash flow.
On February 23, Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said announced the government’s halt to Muhyiddin’s initiative to abolish a portion of Felda settlers’ loans amounting to RM8.3bil.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
