KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): Kedah Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the word "pencuri" (thief) used in Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s statement over the rare earth mining in Kedah to reflect the PAS leader’s administration is in itself defamatory.

Sanusi, in his reply dated Oct 30 to Saifuddin’s defence dated Sept 14, said the minister could have chosen other words but the fact that he called Sanusi “a thief” brings a connotation of a criminal offence in the country, which does not reflect the actual situation.

“If the defendant wants to describe the word theft of rare earths in my administration, the choice of word used is far astray and malicious. These follows there can be one meaning, namely that I am also involved in the theft of rare earth activities.

“The word cannot be deemed as an allegory or sarcasm as they have to be based on a correct subject,” Sanusi said.

The Kedah MB had complained that the words used by Saifuddin in describing him as “a thief” on the compound issued to Menteri Besar Inc (MBI) for mining rare earths created a perception that he as the MB is actually a thief.

“The arrest of 52 individuals over the theft of rare earths, has nothing to do with me as I was never arrested for stealing rare earths. The compound was issued to the MBI as it was the permit holder of the land. The compound also named Ho Chung Meng as the second nominee. The compound was fully paid by Ho, and this underscores the fact that I had nothing to do with the rare earths theft."

“I have not been remanded or accused of the theft,” he said, adding that Saifuddin’s words used had tarnished his reputation.

Furthermore, Sanusi said Saifuddin’s allegation of his administration using funds allocated by the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) was certainly untrue as the fund usage was prior to his appointment as the MB.

“The fact that I tried to apply to the Finance Ministry this year to utilise Marris funds for other usage shows the state was trying to follow the proper procedure in asking permission.”

Sanusi said when he helmed the Kedah MB, there was development and proper financial management and there was a rise in cash balance at the end of the year and a decline in state debt.

“As an administrator in the state, I have never transferred funds from Marris which is to be used for road maintenance to the development fund of the Kedah government,” he said, adding that it was wrong and defamatory for Saifuddin to allege so.

Sanusi had sued Saifuddin for defamation at the Alor Setar High Court in August, following a series of statements issued by the minister in the run-up to the state elections. He is seeking an apology from the minister, along with aggravated, exemplary and general damages to be assessed over the allegations made.

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