DR Mahathir Mohamad filed a lawsuit against Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, accusing him of uttering ‘kutty’ remarks with the intent to slander and defame.

Dr Mahathir, 97, filed the suit through Messrs. Haidir & Co on July 20 at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur naming Zahid, 69, as the sole defendant.

Dr Mahathir alleged Zahid had defamed him during the Umno divisional meeting in Kelana Jaya on July 30, 2017, and the statement was picked up by Astro Awani and several online news portals.

According to the Langkawi MP, Zahid’s comments implied that Dr Mahathir was not born Malay or Muslim – ‘Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty’ – and that Dr Mahathir claimed to be a Malay when he became prime minister to gain political and personal advantage.

The statement was also insulting to Malaysians of Indian Muslim descent, the former prime minister said.

Dr Mahathir said Zahid’s comments had ruined his reputation as a responsible politician who cared for the welfare of the people, while giving the impression that Dr Mahathir was dishonest and untrustworthy, selfish, cunning and deceptive to achieve personal gain.

Dr Mahathir is demanding general, exemplary and excessive damages in addition to requesting an injunction to prevent Zahid or his agents from commenting, repeating or causing the publication of the statement, in addition to requesting a court order for Zahid to issue an unconditional oral and written apology to the plaintiff, costs and other appropriate relief.

Meanwhile, Zahid – in his statement of defence filed on August 17 through Messrs. Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq – denied Dr Mahathir’s claim.

The Umno president said the name “Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty” refers to an individual based on the information in an old copy of an identity card, in addition to claiming that he also has no control over any video publication regarding his statement on the media platform.

Counsel Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi, representing Dr Mahathir, said the court fixed September 13 for further case management.

Dr Mahathir is required to file a response to Zahid’s statement of defence by September 8. – Bernama, August 19, 2022.