Anwar demands RM10m from Sanusi for calling him 'morally bankrupt'

GE15 | Lawyers acting on behalf of Pakatan Harapan’s Tambun candidate Anwar Ibrahim are demanding reparations from Kedah PAS chief Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for allegedly defaming him through his speeches in the constituency on Nov 13.

Among others, Anwar demanded Sanusi retract and apologise unconditionally for his statement, and pay RM10 million in damages plus legal fees.

The letter sent through the law firm SN Nair & Partner dated today said if no favourable reply is received from Sanusi in three days, they have instructions to initiate legal proceedings against him.

In his speeches in Tambun, Sanusi reminded the crowd of Anwar’s past convictions for sodomy and abuse of power, saying the PKR president is thus “morally bankrupt”.

Through the letter of demand, Anwar’s lawyers claimed Sanusi’s speech is defamatory by portraying Anwar as corrupt, manipulative, unethical, impious and a convict. They asserted that Sanusi’s allegations were untrue and misleading.

“We are instructed by our client to emphasise that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has granted a full pardon to our client under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution on or around May 16, 2018, with the legal effect of clearing all of his criminal record and past convictions from 1998 to 2018…

“Despite this, without taking into account the full pardon, you acted with full knowledge of the pardon to (utter) the defamatory statements, and in doing so you have tainted and ridiculed the full pardon granted by the king and have committed contempt against the royal institution,” they said.

The letter also accused Sanusi of challenging the king’s prerogative to grant pardons and clear criminal records, which could amount to an offence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

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