Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has demanded RM200 million in compensation from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for damaging his reputation over the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers’ debt waiver issue.
The PKR president via his counsel SN Nair said this in his reply to Muhyiddin’s letter of demand today.
Anwar also demands an unconditional and unequivocal apology from the former prime minister which must be published in the newspapers.
“We want your client (Muhyiddin) to retract his letter of demand and all defamatory statements published about this issue in general,” said the letter.
The Tambun member of parliament gave his predecessor a 24-hour ultimatum for the latter to abide by all of his demands.
Yesterday, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, demanded an apology from Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman over the latter’s claim on the settlement of Felda’s debts.
Anwar said he had signed a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers, with accompanying proof.
“I hereby attached part of the Assignment for Financial Service Reserve Account (FSRA) agreement in regards to the government guarantee for the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) that I have signed.
“Hence, I demand that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin apologise for the slander thrown against me,” he said in a statement.
Muhyiddin, however, reiterated that the “proof” released by Anwar is not a debt waiver agreement for Felda settlers and instead claimed that it is an agreement on government-backed sukuk.
Muhyiddin said he would proceed to file a defamation suit against Anwar after the latter had failed to submit an unconditional and open apology as requested.
He said the Finance Ministry’s media release today also confirmed that Anwar signed off a government guarantee of RM9.9 billion and not the settlement for Felda settlers’ debt of RM8.3 billion as he had done it while he was in power in 2021.
Muhyiddin insisted he had been responsible for executing the decision in 2021 and accused Anwar of lying to claim credit.
Anwar responded by saying Muhyiddin’s administration had only agreed to the debt waiver but never followed through with it, which was why he could still do it now in 2023. Anwar released documents to prove that he was the one who had signed a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers.
The Finance Ministry, in a statement, confirmed that Anwar had signed the agreement on June 26.
“As per the announcement in a media statement issued by the ministry on June 28, the agreement involves a government guarantee totalling RM9.9 billion for Felda via the issuance of sukuk and revolving credit for it to recover financially,” said the ministry. – NST