DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim has sent a letter of demand to Pendang MP Datuk Awang Hashim over the latter’s remark yesterday accusing the prime minister of being more vindictive than former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In a letter dated today (Feb 22) Anwar demanded that Awang retract his statements publicly, apologise without condition and promise not to repeat such defamatory allegations again.
“We have been instructed by our client (Anwar) to demand from you (Awang) as follows: the withdrawal of the defamatory words in the articles publicly, immediately and unequivocally and to retract all comments that are offensive and defamatory,” the letter from Anwar’s legal counsel SN Nair & Partners read, as reported by Malaysiakini.
“An unconditional apology in the manner and form which will be approved by us as the legal counsel, to be published in newspapers and media of our counsel’s choice.
“And a written undertaking by you not to repeat any allegations or comments as in the defamatory words in the articles.”
Through his lawyer Anwar further demanded a substantive compensation cost from Awang for the damage caused to his reputation, alongside all legal costs arising from the matter.
“We await your response without any delay. If our client does not receive any satisfactory response within a period of three days from the date of the notice, our instructions are to start legal action against you,” the letter read.
In the letter of demand, Datuk Sankara N. Nair said his client further reiterated that Awang’s comments were untrue, burdensome, confusing and unreasonable and were of malicious intent.
It was also meant to denigrate Anwar in the eyes of the public at the national and international levels and expose the prime minister to the public’s hatred and insults.
The letter further noted that Anwar had never interfered with the investigations of enforcement agencies in the country and as such, does not practise any selective prosecution as accused by Awang.
Yesterday (Feb 21) Awang described Anwar’s “vengeful” attitude in relation to the “selective prosecution” of several Bersatu leaders as being worse than when former premier Dr Mahathir was in power.
Awang was referring to former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan who was charged with soliciting and accepting RM6.9 mil in bribes in relation to a Jana Wibawa project yesterday.
In calling it “selective prosecution”, Awang said if the crackdown of Bersatu members is just the beginning for Anwat, then he is the worst prime minister in Malaysia.
“In fact, Dr Mahathir, who had been called a tyrant, is not as bad. The revengeful nature of the prime minister is indeed very strong,” he was reported as saying by Berita Harian. – Feb 22, 2023
