KUALA LUMPUR (May 31) : Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that being alleged as more "vindictive" in allegedly acting against political enemies by Pendang Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim and compared to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is "totally absurd and untenable".
In his reply to the PAS lawmaker's statement of defence, Anwar said that the burden of proof is on Awang Solahuddin to prove the allegation.
In his reply filed on Tuesday (May 30) sighted by The Edge, the Pakatan Harapan chairman said that all reference to Mahathir was "totally irrelevant" and should not have been raised.
However, Anwar averred that since Awang Solahuddin had made the comparison, it was clearly defamatory and he was entitled to damages.
In his statement of defence to Anwar's defamation suit, Awang Solahuddin said, among others, that the criminal charges against former PM and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as well as Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan contradicted Anwar’s claim of not practising politics of vengeance.
The Pendang MP further alleged that the criminal cases were brought after Anwar said last year that funds meant for the Jana Wibawa scheme had been misused.
The defendant also said that Anwar stopped making comments against Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s role in the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal, after the Umno president became a deputy prime minister in the unity government.
He had also highlighted the "Operasi Lalang crackdown" during the Mahathir administration, happened six years after he took office.
However, in comparison, the PAS man said Anwar’s political rivals were brought to court within months after Anwar took office in November last year.
These examples, Awang Solahuddin claimed, showed that Anwar's government would try to "protect or delay" matters when its political allies were involved, but was "quick and stern" when it came to political rivals.
In his reply Anwar also contended that all investigative bodies and prosecution in any case act independently "without fear or favour".
Anwar filed the suit on March 3 over the PAS lawmaker's alleged defamatory statements against him at a press conference at the Parliament lobby when attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Feb 21.
Anwar claimed that the comments were published on TikTok and also the Malaysiakini news portal.
He said that Malaysiakini had republished part of the libellous remarks in two of its articles in Malay and English entitled MP PAS: Sikap pendendam Anwar lebih teruk daripada Mahathir and Why no LCS (littoral combat ship) charges", MP asks ‘more vindictive than Mahathir’ PM.
The Tambun MP said the remarks implied that he was vindictive and vengeful, and had abused his power in office by interfering and arbitrarily instructing law enforcers and prosecutors in the country to act in a way to achieve his personal political agenda.
Anwar is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages and compensation, as well as an injunction order to refrain the defendant or his agents from republishing the alleged defamatory remarks.