Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today filed a defamation suit against PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man over remarks made during a ceramah (political speech) in Pahang last June. Anwar, as the plaintiff, filed the suit through the law firm S.N. Nair and Partners at the High Court here, naming Tuan Ibrahim as the defendant.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar alleged that the defendant made defamatory remarks referring to him during a political speech at Felda Jenderak Utara, Kuala Krau, on June 14, in the presence of members of the public and media representatives. Anwar stated that a video clip of the speech was subsequently uploaded, published, or republished on the YouTube account '@Malaysianometry' the following day, June 15, with the title 'Tuan Ibrahim: 'Pengulas bola direhatkan lepas sertai PAS, ini tanda-tanda PH nak mampus''.
The plaintiff noted that as of the date the suit was filed, the 11-minute video clip had garnered more than 20,000 views, 482 likes, and 65 comments, and remained accessible, viewable, and shareable by the public. Anwar highlighted that at 8.08 am on June 15, Tuan Ibrahim himself published a video clip containing the alleged defamatory remarks on his official Facebook account, @Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. On June 24, the video was also uploaded on the 'PAS Pahang' Facebook account.
Anwar alleged that the defamatory words specifically and directly referred to him, his character, integrity, position, profession, or status as Prime Minister. He emphasized that the words were untrue, false, baseless, excessive, malicious, and published without any reasonable facts or supporting evidence. The plaintiff asserted that he had never directed, caused, influenced, or prompted the Royal Malaysia Police to investigate or take action against any individual solely due to criticism of him, the government, or any administration member.
Anwar further stated that he had never interfered, directly or indirectly, in the constitutional or customary process of determining, selecting, voting for, or appointing the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan in the state. The plaintiff claimed that as a result of the defendant's actions, he had suffered serious damage to his reputation, character, dignity, integrity, credibility, good name, and standing, both personally and in his capacities as Prime Minister, Finance Minister, PKR president, Pakatan Harapan chairman, and Tambun Member of Parliament.
Consequently, Anwar sought an injunction to prevent the defendant or his representatives from further publishing or republishing the defamatory words. The Prime Minister also sought an order requiring the defendant to delete the defamatory publications from any social media accounts, platforms, or publications under his possession, custody, or control. In addition to general damages, Anwar is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as any other relief deemed just and appropriate by the court.