KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday 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 law firm SN Nair & Partners at the High Court here, naming Tuan Ibrahim as the defendant.
According to the statement of claim, Anwar alleged that Tuan Ibrahim 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 said a video clip of the speech was subsequently uploaded, published or republished on the YouTube account @Malaysianometry the following day, June 15, under the title ‘Tuan Ibrahim: Pengulas bola direhatkan lepas sertai PAS, ini tanda-tanda PH nak mampus’.
According to the plaintiff, as of the date the suit was filed, the 11-minute video clip had received more than 20,000 views, 482 likes and 65 comments, and remained accessible, viewable and shareable by the public.
Anwar said 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 to the PAS Pahang Facebook account.
He alleged that the defamatory words specifically and directly referred to him, his character, integrity, position, profession or status as prime minister.
The plaintiff said the defamatory words were untrue, false, baseless, excessive and malicious, and had been uttered or published without any reasonable factual basis or supporting evidence.
"The plaintiff has never directed, caused, influenced or caused the Royal Malaysia Police to investigate or take action against any individual solely because the individual had criticised the plaintiff, the government or any member of its administration," the statement of claim said.
Anwar said he had also never interfered, directly or indirectly, in determining, selecting, voting for or appointing the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan through the constitutional or customary process relating to the matter in the state.
The plaintiff said 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, Parti Keadilan Rakyat president, Pakatan Harapan chairman and Tambun MP.
Anwar therefore sought an injunction to prevent the defendant or his representatives from further publishing or republishing the allegedly defamatory words.
The prime minister also sought an order requiring the defendant to delete the allegedly 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.
