KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had filed a defamation suit against Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over Zahid's remarks that allegedly questioned Mahathir's ancestry, has called Zahid's defence illogical.
The two-time prime minister had also reiterated that the Umno president was acting in bad faith for raising questions about his heritage, Mahathir said in his reply to the defence filed on Sept 8.
Mahathir said Zahid in referring to Mahathir as "anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty" in his speech implied that the former PM was born a non-Muslim.
Although Zahid has, in his defence, denied referring to Mahathir, the former premier said Zahid's speech — where he mentioned a person who was Umno president for 22 years and led the country for 22 years — could only refer to Mahathir.
“The defamatory words are clear and real in referring to me,” the 97-year-old statesman said, adding that Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk Member of Parliament, was merely trying to twist the facts in his defence.
Mahathir also said other statements uttered by Zahid in reference to a leader who led Umno for 22 years were innuendo meant and directed at Mahathir.
“Any ordinary person who read the statement would understand that the basis that it was made is to result in hatred, mala fide (in bad faith) and revenge which is directed to affect my reputation as a statesman and also an influential political leader,” said Mahathir.
Mahathir, who is also Langkawi MP, filed the defamation suit on July 20 based on what Zahid had said in 2017, which Zahid again repeated in July last year. Zahid, in his defence filed on Aug 17, denied that the person in the statements Zahid uttered refers to the former prime minister.
Mahathir added that despite Zahid's denial, the suit has successfully shown the nexus to the claim that such statements made by the Umno president referred to him (Mahathir), and this truly portray that the Umno president's denial defence as illogical.
Mahathir added that Zahid's defence was merely a bare denial. The former premier maintained that as a result of the statements, there are people who questioned his ancestry.
While Zahid also pleaded the defence of qualified privilege and justification, Mahathir maintained that the defamatory statements had failed to deny the fact that what was uttered was indeed defamatory.
“If one were to concentrate and understand in reading the defamatory words, one would come to the realisation that what was said was defamatory on me,” Mahathir said, adding that there is no merit in Zahid's defence of qualified privilege and justification.
For the above reasons, Mahathir, who filed the reply via Messrs Haidir & Co, sought to strike out the defence.
A case management of the suit was held before deputy registrar Nor Afidah Idris on Tuesday (Sept 13). Nor Afidah then ordered another case management to be held on Nov 7, where the parties are directed to file documents in preparation for the trial before that.
Dr Mahathir's counsel Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi told theedgemarkets.com that they would not file any interlocutory application.
Notably, Zahid had also filed a suit against Mahathir for defamation, after the former PM said Zahid had sought Mahathir's help to get his corruption charges dropped.