Anwar Ibrahim is citing a RM214.2 million contract awarded to a company linked to then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the former’s defence against a defamation suit by the latter.
The prime minister is relying on the defence of justification (ready to prove allegations in court) by citing, among others, the award of the fibre-optic contract to Opcom Cables Sdn Bhd.
Anwar’s statement of defence was filed at the Shah Alam High Court via e-filing last night.
He claimed that Mahathir’s family members were directors of Opcom Cables, including eldest son Mirzan (1994-2021), second son Mokhzani (2009-2019), third son Mukhriz (1994-2019), and Mukhriz’s wife Norzieta Zakaria (1995-2021).
Mahathir was the prime minister and defence minister when the contract was awarded.
The plaintiff is suing the defendant over claims that the former had amassed wealth for personal riches while in power.
According to the defence, PKR president Anwar claimed that as the prime minister and finance minister at the material time, the plaintiff was in control of Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc), which in turn held the golden share that allowed the government to make key decisions in Telekom, which carried out direct negotiation with Opcom for the supply of fibre optics.
“At the material period, Opcom Cables were controlled by and/or belonged to the plaintiff’s family members as explained in Paragraph 60 above (in the statement of defence). In other words, the plaintiff’s family members had substantial interests in Opcom Cables.
“Kencana Petroleum is and/or, for all intents and purposes, a company which belongs to and/or is controlled by Mirzan.
“Despite having only being set up in 2001 and without any known track record, Kencana Petroleum was awarded a major fabrication license by Petronas.
“The said fabrication license was awarded to Kencana Petroleum at the time when the plaintiff was the prime minister,” Anwar contended.
Ulterior motive
Anwar also claimed Mahathir’s lawsuit was filed with an ulterior motive as the latter never took any legal action against publications and prominent members of society who raised similar allegations.
He pointed out that Mahathir’s civil action was only filed when the Pakatan Harapan chairperson became prime minister.
“The present action was filed with the aim of undermining the defendant’s credibility as the current prime minister as well as the present federal government, and to create racial divide in view of the upcoming state elections for Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.
“The plaintiff has recently made numerous and baseless public attacks on the present federal government led by the defendant for the sole purpose of undermining their credibility in view of the upcoming state elections for Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah,” Anwar claimed.
The defendant claimed there is no basis for Mahathir’s lawsuit as the former’s allegedly defamatory statement could not lower, injure, and reduce the latter’s reputation in the mind of the right-thinking members of society.
“The defendant avers that the reputation and credibility of the plaintiff has been and will be judged on the basis of his own conduct.
“His malicious and baseless attacks on the present government led by the defendant in an attempt to redeem himself politically at any cost, including but not limited to instigating racial turbulence and undermining political, economic, and social stability, has led to him no longer being perceived as a credible person,” Anwar claimed. – Malaysiakini