Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has filed a defamation suit against former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin over allegations the latter made while on the Johor elections campaign trail.
According to a report by The Edge, it involves Muhyiddin’s claims that Zahid had asked the Bersatu president to intervene in his court cases when he was prime minister.
Following an initial denial from Zahid, Muhyiddin maintained last month that he had the evidence to back his claims.
Zahid’s suit was filed yesterday by Messrs Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq and the matter will be heard tomorrow before Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff.
The Bagan Datuk MP is seeking an injunction for Muhyiddin to stop repeating his claims as well as aggravated, general and exemplary damages.
Aside from Zahid, Muhyiddin had also alleged that former prime minister Najib Razak had asked him to intervene in his court cases. The Pagoh MP said he declined the two Umno leaders’ alleged requests as he did not want to interfere in judicial affairs.
However, Zahid had said he was willing to take a religious oath to deny Muhyiddin’s claim that he had asked him to intervene in his court case, and challenged the latter to do the same.
Najib had also maintained that he never sought Muhyiddin’s help to clear him of corruption charges. – FMT