Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir asserted in court yesterday that Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s remarks linking him to an alleged secret pact suggested the Malay community would have cause for concern if he became prime minister.
Testifying in his own defamation suit against the former Transparency International chairman, Mukhriz, the deputy president of federal Opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), claimed this was implied in Tunku Abdul Aziz’s remarks.
“Because my name and Lim Kit Siang’s name were raised in a few paragraphs in this statement, I am assuming I am also categorised as the key players that are hiding something from Malay voters,” he told the High Court.
Mukhriz was referring to a statement in which Tunku Abdul Aziz asked if key Opposition politicians were trying to hide something from Malay voters by refusing to name the federal Opposition’s chairman and deputy chairman in order to realise their dreams of taking over Putrajaya.
Tunku Abdul Aziz’s lawyer, Datuk Seri Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, then asked how Malay voters would be worried if Mukhriz becomes prime minister, to which Mukhriz replied: “In general”.
Yesterday was the second day of hearing in Mukhriz’s lawsuit against Tunku Abdul Aziz over the latter’s allegation of a secret pact between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Lim Kit Siang to make Mukhriz prime minister and the DAP leader the deputy prime minister.
Mukhriz conceded that he was not named as a party in this alleged pact, but claimed that it was implied that he would benefit from it.
He also acknowledged that the topic of who would be PM and deputy PM if the federal Opposition wins power was discussed among voters and political analysts throughout 2016 and 2017.
When asked by Jahaberdeen if he knew of such discussions, Mukhriz said it was “discussed among BN political analysts” and he did not feel it was widely discussed among Malaysians.
He also disagreed that Tunku Abdul Aziz’s remarks were focused only on Lim becoming a DPM candidate, noting that his name was also mentioned.
During the cross-examination, Jahaberdeen pointed out Tunku Abdul Aziz had said the basis for his claims is that he was formerly in DAP and could read the plans of Lim.
“I disagree,” Mukhriz said. “I can’t answer on behalf of the defendant, I can’t know if he as former vice-chairman of DAP really knows his (Lim’s) plans.
When Jahaberdeen asked Mukhriz if it was possible he did not know of the pact because it was allegedly secret, the latter said the same would also be true for Tunku Abdul Aziz.
When Jahaberdeen noted that Tunku Abdul Aziz did not mention an “evil pact”, Mukhriz said he considers a secret deal to be an evil pact, before he agreed that politicians usually keep their strategies and plans confidential.
High Court judge Datuk Nordin Hassan fixed February 27 as the next hearing date.
Mukhriz’s lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said Dr Mahathir is expected to testify then as the second and last witness for his client.
March 1, 6, 7 have also been fixed as hearing dates for the case.
Last February 7, Mukhriz filed a defamation suit against Tunku Abdul Aziz over the latter’s December 30, 2016, statement that alleged such a secret plot, as well as over the latter’s January 3, 2017, statement that demanded a sworn statement from Mukhriz and Lim to deny such a plot.
In his witness statement filed for this lawsuit, Mukhriz had denied the existence of a secret pact between Dr Mahathir and Lim to make Mukhriz PM designate and to make Lim DPM designate.
Mukhriz had also said Tunku Abdul Aziz’s claims have been “proven” to be false and defamatory, citing federal Opposition Pakatan Harapan’s January 7, 2018, announcement that PPBM president Dr Mahathir and PKR’s Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would be its PM-designate and deputy PM-designate. – Malay Mail Online
Related report: Jan 12, Mukhriz Denies Dr M, Kit Siang Had Secret Plot to Make Him PM