AS Malaysians prepare their popcorn and coke in anticipation of bitter political rivals Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gearing up for their civil court showdown in a RM150 mil defamation suit brought by the former, one wonders whether the much-anticipated event will really ‘live up to expectations’.
Those with good memory may recall how a RM100 mil defamation suit mooted by protégé Anwar against his mentor Dr Mahathir over the latter’s “gay” allegation at an international rights event on Sept 20, 2005 (Dr Mahathir had retired on October 2003) fizzled out into oblivion.
A stark difference this time around is that today’s better wired world coupled with social media prowess is hyping up the court battle as if it is an event of the century that features Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister (PM) of 22 years and 22 months with the world’s longest PM-in- waiting (24 years).
Another difference is perhaps the motive which triggered both legal suits: this time around, it is centred on money as opposed to the make-belief keywords such as “gay” and “sodomist” that Malaysians by far and large have ceased to link Anwar with.
In the centre of the latest suit is Dr Mahathir claiming that Anwar had defamed him by accusing him of being racist and enriching himself and his family members during his 22-year premiership tenure while challenging Anwar to expose “the boxes of evidence in his safekeeping”.
Fast rewind 18 years prior, Anwar’s initiated a defamation suit against his 98-year-old mentor after the latter had refused to apologise and pay RM100 mil in compensation for statements alleging that the former is a “sodomist”.
Back then, Dr Mahathir rejected the demands and said he would “vigorously defend” any proceeding against him.
Anwar had described DRMahathir’s remarks as “grossly negligent, reckless, irresponsible, deliberate and malicious”. He further claimed that the remarks were aimed to discredit his character and “expose him to public hatred, scorn, odium, contempt and ridicule”.
In explaining why he had sacked Anwar as deputy PM and finance minister in 1998, Dr Mahathir had at the international gathering on Sept 20, 2005 claimed that he could not “have a person who is like that in my Cabinet who may succeed and become the prime minister”.
“Imagine having a gay prime minister. Nobody would be safe,” added the world’s oldest PM (94- years- old at the time of Dr Mahathir’s resignation in his second premiership stint).
In his defence, Dr Mahathir said he was justified in calling Anwar a homosexual as it was a matter of public interest. He also claimed qualified privilege.
He also referred to a Federal Court judgment on Sept 2 2004 allowing Anwar’s appeal against his conviction for sodomy but noted that there was evidence to suggest he was involved in homosexual activities with his adoptee brother Sukma Darmawat Saamitaat Madja.
In his defence, Anwar claimed that he was sacked as deputy PM in 1998 as part of a political conspiracy hatched by his former mentor.
He also alleged that his troubles with Dr Mahathir began in 1995 over certain “courses of action” he had taken to deal with mismanagement and misuse of funds in the government, public corporations and UMNO.
Anwar also contended that the former PM had felt threatened by his popularity in UMNO and among Malaysians and feared that he would challenge his political power.
For the latest suit which case management has been fixed on May 31 by High Court Judicial Commissioner Jamhirah Ali, Dr Mahathir is seeking RM100 mil in exemplary damages and RM50 mil in general damages.
Additionally, the founder of Bersatu and Pejuang also demanded that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and PKR president issue a written apology and hold a special media conference to apologise for claiming that he (Dr Mahathir) and his family members have been amassing wealth during his reign as PM.
Is there truly no way for both gentlemen to just bury the hatchet and let bygones be bygones? – May 12, 2023
