THE High Court today rejected Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application for an interim injunction against former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

According to lawyers Mior Nor Haidir and Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, who are representing the Pejuang chairman, judge Rozana Ali Yusof made the decision during online proceedings today.

The injunction application is part of Zahid’s defamatory action against the former prime minister over claims that the Bagan Datuk MP had sought help to get corruption charges against him dropped.

“The court in hearing the interim injunction application has ruled that this is not the stage for the parties to argue on the merits of the case.

“Therefore, Zahid as the plaintiff in this action must prove that the statements made by Dr Mahathir are not true.

“Based on the defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege submitted by lawyers on behalf of Dr Mahathir, the court objected to allowing the interim injunction order sought by Zahid,” the lawyers said in a statement today.

The court also ordered Zahid to pay RM5,000 in cost to Dr Mahathir.

Zahid was represented by lawyer Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman.

In a press conference on February 23, Dr Mahathir said that Zahid had sought his help in 2018 after it became clear that he would become prime minister.

In reply to his notice of summons, Dr Mahathir on March 2, in a reply, denied defaming the former deputy prime minister.

Zahid is standing trial on 47 charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving millions of ringgit from Yayasan Akalbudi and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister.

He is also facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to RM42 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd as an inducement to extend the contract of the company as the operator of the One-Stop Centre in China and the VLN system, and to maintain the agreement to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.

Zahid was charged on another seven counts as home minister to have obtained for himself SGD$1.15 million, RM3 million, €15,000 and USD$15,000 in cash from the same company in connection with his official work.

Zahid had also filed a similar suit against Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who is said to have made a similar claim during the Johor elections campaign. – July 5, 2022.