KEDAH Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has been ordered not to repeat or republish statements slandering Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on social media or any other platform until the lawsuit filed by Anwar against him is decided by the court. 

Anwar’s counsel, lawyer S. N. Nair said Judge Mahazan Mat Taib allowed the inter-parte injunction by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman during online proceedings held today at the Alor Star High Court. 

“The injunction prevents the defendant (Sanusi), his employees or agents from repeating or publishing similar statements with the tendency to depict the plaintiff (Anwar) directly or through insinuation on any of the defendant’s social media channels, websites or other platforms until the lawsuit is dealt with,” Nair said when contacted, adding that the court set February 19, 2024 for case management.  

Nair was assisted by lawyer Jaden Phoon Wai Ken while Sanusi was represented by lawyers Yusfarizal Yussoff and Adam Luqman Amdan at today’s proceedings. 

Anwar, 76, had sought the injunction in a lawsuit he filed against Sanusi on December 13 last year over defamatory comments he made during a speech while engaged in the “Jelajah PN Best Tambun” election campaign last year. 

Anwar alleged in his statement of claim that the defamatory statements implied that the plaintiff obtained a royal pardon through deception and was a liar who had betrayed the people’s mandate. 

He said the statements were made on November 19 last year with ill intent aimed at manipulating the public and creating hatred of him and PH during the last general election’s campaigning period.

Sanusi said in his statement of defence that there was no ill intent to slander Anwar and his criticism of the PM was for campaigning purposes. – Bernama, December 19, 2023.