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Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor contended that his 15th general election (GE15) campaign speech was based on public records about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy 1 case and other moral-related matters.
In his statement of defence against Tambun MP Anwar’s defamation suit, the PAS state chief said that he is ready to prove in court the contents of his speech by referring to the 2004 Federal Court remark about the plaintiff’s sodomy matter, among other matters, widely known by the general public.
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theSundaily
Sanusi: No malicious intent, did not slander Anwar
- 17-03- 2023 06:22 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has stressed that he had no malicious intent and did not slander Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when speaking during the ‘Jelajah PN (Perikatan Nasional) Best Tambun’ election campaign last year.
Muhammad Sanusi, 48, in his statement of defence in response to the Prime Minister’s defamation suit said he was merely criticising Anwar during the 15th General Election (GE15) campaigning.
“As a politician, the plaintiff should have the courage to take responsibility for the facts that I stated and not be offended by the comments, suggestions and criticisms made by me and the community,“ said the Kedah PN chairman in the statement filed through Messr. Yusfarizal Aziz & Zaid on Feb 13.
On Jan 11, the Alor Setar High Court ordered the Kedah Chief Minister to file a statement of defence in response to the defamation suit by Feb 13.
Anwar filed the suit on Dec 13 last year over Muhammad Sanusi’s speech during the election campaign accusing the Pakatan Harapan chairman of immoral behaviour.
Muhammad Sanusi also asserted that he was only carrying out his responsibilities and freedom of expression provided under the Federal Constitution, not unlike the plaintiff who criticised and made accusations against opposing parties during the election campaign.
“Thus, the speech gave a different point of view and the criticisms made against the plaintiff were supported by facts and true records related to him that should not be blocked and subjected to legal action,“ he added.
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/sanusi-no-malicious-intent-did-not-slander-anwar-GA10764020
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Sanusi ‘unapologetic’ in defence, says Anwar in court filing
Sanusi Nor’s defence had said Anwar Ibrahim should not be ‘thin-skinned’ and had alleged that Anwar’s own campaign speeches were defamatory and extreme.
V Anbalagan – 17 Mar 2023, 6:53pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Anwar Ibrahim has rejected an explanation offered by Kedah Perikatan Nasional chief Sanusi Nor over remarks made against him in a campaign speech during the general election last November.
In a statement of reply filed over his defamation suit against Sanusi, Anwar said Sanusi’s defence showed he had still maintained an “unapologetic attitude” towards him.
Anwar said the defamation was premeditated, malicious and was borne out of mala fide intentions.
Describing Sanusi’s reasoning as “oxymoronic and farcical”, Anwar said he was now entitled to adduce evidence of Sanusi’s own character and turpitude at the hearing of the suit.
Anwar had filed a suit for defamation against Sanusi in December last year.
Last month, Sanusi had in his defence to the suit said that Anwar had no basis to be “thin-skinned”.
He said Anwar had during his own election campaign speeches subjected his political opponents to multiple accusations which were not merely critical but also “defamatory” and “extreme”.
“It would be unreasonable and surprising for a politician who regularly calls others ‘thieves’, ‘stupid’, etc., to suddenly become sensitive when his opponents comment and criticise him based on his background which is known to the public,” Sanusi’s defence said.
Sanusi also said his comments about Anwar were based on matters which were derived from public records going back to 1998 when Anwar was sacked from the government.
The Jeneri assemblyman is relying on the defences of justification, qualified privilege, and fair comment to defeat Anwar’s suit.
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weehingthong 