I raised public interest issue when Amirudin defamed me: Sanusi

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claimed his Selangor counterpart Amirudin Shari has repeatedly issued defamatory statements that had tarnished the former's public reputation.

In response to Amirudin's attack, the PAS leader claimed he was forced to raise the issue of governance linked to the PKR's leader state administration in his by-election campaign speech.

Sanusi raised this contention in his statement of defence against Amirudin's defamation suit against him over an allegation that the Selangor menteri besar is involved with tycoon Vincent Tan in a scandal linked to the Sungai Klang river cleaning project.

In the defence filed at the Shah Alam High Court on Oct 10, the defendant pointed out that the context of his campaign speech is the general knowledge that there has been a long-standing war of words between him and the plaintiff that intensified during the six-state by-election period.

The speech was delivered at the ‘Jelajah Mega PN Best Sayangi Kedah Sejahtera’ ceramah at Dataran Darul Aman, Jitra, in August.

Sanusi (above, left) claimed that Amirudin (above) himself had in multiple instances issued public statements that denigrated, attacked and defamed the former with baseless defamation and bad-faith comments that resulted in the tarnishing of the former's public reputation.

True facts

The defendant cited two instances where Amirudin allegedly defamed him. Sanusi claimed the first one was at a press conference after Amirudin officiated at an event - the Madani Afiat Gotong-Royong Mega Perangi Aedes 1.0 and National One Hour Malaysia Cleanup 2023 programme on July 9.

The second instance was a speech the Selangor menteri besar delivered during the Program Jelajah Madani at Bukit Melawati on July 13.

"In light of the plaintiff himself having issued words and defamatory accusations against the defendant, the defendant was forced to defend himself by raising the issue of governance under the plaintiff's (state) administration that has become the subject of public discussion and questions.

"The issue raised is an issue of public interest based on true facts.

"Therefore, the plaintiff's action of filing this defamation suit against the defendant is an attempt to close the plaintiff's own acts of issuing defamatory statements against the defendant.

"The political war of words is the norm among politicians, as long as it is based on true issues and facts," Sanusi contended.

Taken out of context

Sanusi denied defaming Amirudin, claiming that the latter took the former's speech out of context via exaggeration.

The defendant contended he never said that the plaintiff had been involved in abuse of power or corruption.

"The defendant has never accused the plaintiff of directly causing the Selangor state government to lose and/or incur losses of at least RM180 million.

"What the defendant said was that the project surrounding Sungai Klang has the potential of causing losses of at least RM180 million, and did not link this directly with the plaintiff.

"The defendant has never accused the plaintiff as being a menteri besar who is unqualified, inefficient, corrupt, practises cronyism and favouritism.

"The defendant has never accused the plaintiff of colluding with Chinese traders, patrons and/or protectors, businesspersons, or favoured and enriched Chinese businesspersons," Sanusi contended.

Sanusi also claimed that contrary to Amirudin's dispute over the use of the word 'cokia' in the former's speech, the defendant explained that he was stating that as Kedah menteri besar, he would prioritise the welfare of the lower class and not merely that of the wealthy or corporate class.

He contended that he was making a comparison with Amirudin's administration on the issue of the Sungai Klang project having been given to Tan, whom the public knows as a wealthy corporate figure.

The defendant reiterated that this is the plaintiff's decision and is not an offence.

The defendant also cited the defence of justification (ready to prove the impugned statement in court), fair comment (whereby the defendant contended members of the public have the right to know matters of public interest), and qualified privilege (a situation where the words are issued by a person who has an interest, or a legal, social, or moral duty to do so).

On Aug 30, Amirudin hauled Sanusi to the civil court over alleged defamation.

Previously, Tan had also filed a similar defamation action against Sanusi.

The Selangor menteri besar is represented by counsel Haijan Omar. Law firm Faizi & Associates is acting for Sanusi.

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