BERSATU deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir said former DAP vice chairman Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s allegation that Pakatan Harapan had made a secret pact to make him prime minister has been proven to be slander, Sinar Harian reported.

He said, in a witness statement at the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday in his defamation suit against Tunku Aziz, the allegation has been proven to be baseless, false and defamatory when PH named his father, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as the coalition’s prime minister candidate and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail his deputy during the PH convention on Sunday.

The former Kedah menteri besar filed the suit against Tunku Aziz, who made the allegation in two statements: “There exists a secret pact between Tun Mahathir and Kit Siang - Tunku Aziz” and “Tunku Aziz urges Mukhriz, Kit Siang to make sworn declaration” published on a blog (aidcnews.wordpress.com).

Mukhriz said it was not wrong for a politician to wish to become a leader, but it had to be through due process and not a “secret pact”, as alleged by Tunku Aziz.

“It is not a crime or sin for any politician that wants to provide pure and transparent leadership service to harbour such a wish as long as it is through legitimate means and genuinely for the society’s interest.

“I also harbour the wish to be a leader, but it must be through the right and transparent way and not through scams or fraud,” he said.
Mukhriz is seeking damages and an apology from Tunku Aziz.

The trial will continue on January 18 before justice Nordin Hassan. Tunku Aziz’s lawyer, Jahaberdeen Mohamad Yunoos, will cross examine Mukhriz.

Mukhriz is represented by Haniff Khatri Abdullah and Illyanie Noor Khuszairy. – January 12, 2018.