THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today rejected Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s bid for documents in his defamation suit against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, FMT reports.

The former prime minister had asked for the documents on an alleged 1997 bailout of Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd (KPB) by Petronas and Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC).

His lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said judicial commissioner Zaharah Hussain had dismissed the application.

He said this was because Anwar in his defence statement had stated that the event had taken place many years ago and was not recorded.

“If there are any documents, they will be part of the defendant’s defence and he will need to produce them later during pre-trial case management,” Rafique said.

Dr Mahathir is also seeking papers related to the 2003 contracts awarded by Telekom Malaysia Bhd to Opcom Cables Sdn Bhd and a 2002 fabrication licence issued by Petronas to Kencana Petroleum Bhd.

He had also asked Anwar to produce reports linked to Perwaja Steel Bhd’s request for funds from the government in 1998, as well as documents connected to legal fees paid to law firms Lewis & Co and VK Lingam & Co.

The court fixed November 3 for case management.

In May, Dr Mahathir had hit Anwar with a RM150 million defamation suit after the prime minister accused him of being racist and enriching himself.

He said Anwar’s accusations, made in his capacity as a prime minister, had a far more devastating effect on him as opposed to similar statements made by ordinary citizens.

Dr Mahathir is seeking RM50 million in general damages and another RM100 million in exemplary damages.

On April 7, Anwar said he would present evidence that Dr Mahathir enriched himself and his family while in power. This came after Dr Mahathir issued him with a letter of demand on March 27. – October 2, 2023.