FORMER prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin claims that his speech at the “Grand Finale Perikatan Nasional (PN) Padang Serai” during the November general election campaign is not slanderous towards Anwar Ibrahim, but rather a fair comment.

He said it was part of a political campaign to support the PN candidate contesting the Padang Serai parliamentary seat in the election.

In his defence statement filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier this week over a defamation suit brought against him by Anwar, Muhyiddin said the prime minister and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman should not be offended by the criticisms and questions in his speech.

“The plaintiff (Anwar) should openly and wholeheartedly answer the questions raised and deny any allegations that he claims are false,” he said.

The PN chairman said he and Anwar are public figures and party leaders who are often hurled with various allegations and accusations.

He claimed he had no knowledge or control over the TikTok account under the name “@beritakini8”, which uploaded the video of his speech.

“The entire speech at the talk has been reproduced on my Facebook account under the name ‘Muhyiddin Yassin’. I do not personally control or upload any material to my Facebook account,” he said.

Muhyiddin also claimed that he did not manage or had control or authority over any publication of the statements in the speech, which was published by Malaysiakini with the title “MB’s aide to Muhyiddin: Anwar paid RM1 as S’gor economic adviser”.

In the suit, Anwar, 75, claims that on December 5 last year, Muhyiddin, has made slanderous remarks against him in a speech during the “Grand Finale Perikatan Nasional Padang Serai” in Taman Selasih, Kulim, which was attended by a large crowd.

Anwar is seeking, among others, general damages, aggravated damages, exemplary damages and an injunction to prevent Muhyiddin from continuing to publish or distribute similar defamatory statements. – Bernama, January 20, 2023.