KUALA LUMPUR (July 26): A solicitor for Home Affairs Minister Senator Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had on Wednesday (July 26) informed Datuk Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s lawyers that his client stands by the statement he issued over the purported theft of rare earth elements (REE) in Bukit Enggang in Sik, Kedah, and denies it was defamatory towards the state's caretaker menteri besar.

In a reply by Messrs Nav & Co to Sanusi’s solicitor on Wednesday, the firm reiterated that the minister has no intention of continuing to respond to the Kedah caretaker MB on the matter through letters.

“Our client stands by the sting of his statements. He denies that the statements are defamatory or capable of bearing any defamatory implications.

“We have instructions to accept service of legal process,” the firm's letter sighted by The Edge stated.

On July 20, Saifuddin had also denied that what he said on the REE was meant to tarnish Sanusi’s image.

Sanusi purportedly issued a letter of demand against Saifuddin through Messrs Tengku Amalin & Faizi on July 21 over the alleged defamatory statement by the minister in linking the issue of RM1.6 billion funding from the Malaysian Record Information System (Marris) with the REE theft.

“He (Saifuddin) accused me of being a thief of REE and using RM1.6 billion of Marris funding... for something else,” he said at a ceramah alleging that Saifuddin was putting the blame on him when this was done by previous Kedah state government administration during Umno.

Sanusi’s lawyer Mohd Yusfarizal Yussoff, when contacted by The Edge, confirmed receiving the minister’s reply and said the instructions were to file the suit.

Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, another of Sanusi's lawyers, said Saifuddin's reply failed to provide any reasonable explanation.

"In fact, there is no explanation at all. Our instructions are to proceed with the filing of the suit and this will be done soon," he said.

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