KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 23): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had on Wednesday settled his 2023 defamation suit against Pendang member of Parliament Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim of PAS.
The settlement was recorded before High Court judge Roslan Mat Nor with no order as to costs and without liberty to file afresh.
Anwar’s counsel Datuk N Sankara Nair who appeared with Wong Guo Jin, informed Roslan earlier that they had reached a settlement to the case, and sought no costs for the withdrawal with no liberty to file afresh.
Awang Solahuddin, counsels Yusfarizal Yusoff and Mohd Faizi Che Abu confirmed the settlement.
Sankara asked that the dates fixed for the trial next month be vacated.
The PAS central committee member has agreed to withdraw his defamatory statement uttered on Feb 21, 2023, which has become a cause of action to this suit.
“I would not say or cause to publish the same defamatory statement,” Awang Solahuddin said in a statement prepared by both lawyers to court following the settlement.
They jointly say that after considering the implication of the legal proceeding in this defamation suit including the cost and litigation and thinking there are bigger and more important things which need to be prioritised for the benefit of the people and country, they both decided to finally settle the dispute and suit.
“We hope that this settlement is accepted and respected and it is considered as a good settlement. We also hope that this issue is not to be a polemic or become an issue which would affect the country’s stability,” they said.
Last month, Sankara and Faizi indicated the possibility of a settlement being reached and asked Roslan that Wednesday (Sept 23) be fixed as case management.
The trial had been fixed on Oct 26–29 if settlement had not been reached.
Anwar filed the suit against the PAS politician in March 2023, over Awang Solahuddin's comments made at the Parliament lobby.
The Pakatan Harapan chief claims the remarks insinuated that he was vindictive and had abused his power in office to achieve his personal political agenda.
The Pendang MP in turn cites the defence of fair comment, and contends that the criminal charges against ex-PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, among others, contradict Anwar’s claim of not practising politics of vengeance.
Awang Solahuddin also referenced the "Operasi Lalang crackdown" during the Mahathir administration, which happened six years after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took office.
In comparison, Awang Solahuddin said Anwar’s political rivals were brought to court within months after taking office in November 2022.
In reply, Anwar said that this was "totally absurd and untenable" and asserted that the burden of proof is on the PAS man to prove the allegations.
Anwar was originally 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.