KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's defamation lawsuit against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is headed for a settlement after the two leaders agreed to end a personal dispute between them.
In statements posted on their respective Facebook accounts on Friday, Zahid and Muhyiddin both said that they made the decision on the advice of Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong and in order to give priority to the current situation in the country, especially the people's welfare.
“Zahid and Muhyiddin would both like to thank the High Court judicial commissioner and court officers, and hope this decision is accepted and respected by all parties,” they said in the statements.
The out-of-court settlement decision was confirmed by Muhyiddin’s counsel Chethan Jethwani when contacted by The Edge.
Zahid filed the suit in April 2022 over a claim that he sought help from Muhyiddin — when he was the prime minister — to intervene in criminal proceedings against Zahid.
In his statement of claim, Zahid said that on Feb 16, 2022, during the Johor state election campaign in Mersing, Muhyiddin made the statement with ill intention and malice against him, and on the same day, video footage of the alleged defamatory statement was published on Astro Awani’s YouTube channel.
Zahid, who is the Umno president, claimed that Muhyiddin’s statement implied that he had used a shortcut to try to settle and postpone an ongoing court case, and that he had asked for Muhyiddin’s help to intervene in the court case and the judiciary system. It also implied that he ordered the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, and that he was not a respectable and exemplary leader.
Zahid claimed that the allegations were false and aimed at tarnishing his good name and reputation. He sought general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an order for Muhyiddin to publish a public apology in newspapers.
In his defence, Muhyiddin, who is the Bersatu president, maintained that what transpired was the truth.
“There cannot be damage to Zahid's reputation, as his public reputation was already questionable and/or damaged prior to the statement being made. The statement made was true and therefore cannot be defamatory in nature,” said Muhyiddin.