PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today filed a lawsuit against Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for defamation, following remarks Sanusi made linking Anwar with immoral behaviour, during the ‘PN Best Tambun Tour’ event.

Anwar, 75, as the plaintiff filed the suit through Messrs. S.N. Nair & Partners at Alor Setar High Court, Kedah.

Based on the statement of claim, Anwar alleged that on November 13 Sanusi gave an election speech in support of Tambun PN candidate Ahmad Faizal Azumu with hundreds of visitors in attendance.

Anwar said the speech was uploaded to Faizal’s Facebook page and received more than 88,000 views, 531 reactions, 58 shares and 384 comments.

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman claimed that on November 14, defamatory statements from the video were quoted by MalaysiaKini and the portal published an article in Bahasa Malaysia and English.

According to Anwar, Sanusi accused the prime minister of obtaining a Royal pardon through fraud while remaining not pardoned, that he had deceived the king and was a liar, untrustworthy, unethical and betrayed the people’s mandate.

Anwar claimed that the statements were untrue, repulsive and malicious, and aimed at inciting the public and creating personal hatred towards him and PH.

Anwar said the statement caused him to be insulted, ridiculed by the community as well as damaging his image and good reputation as the chairman of PKR and PH, the MP for Tambun, not least as prime minister.

Anwar said he wrote to Sanusi on November 16, demanding Sanusi retract and apologise for his statement but Sanusi refused. – Bernama, December 13, 2022.