'Kutty' suit: Politicians lie when opportunity arises, says Dr M

Politicians lie when the opportunity arises, claimed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former Umno president was testifying in today’s civil court hearing of his defamation suit against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The former Langkawi MP is suing the Umno president over an allegation of the existence of an identification card (IC) with the name “Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty”.

Mahathir said that despite not mentioning his name specifically, Zahid was referring to him during a speech at the Kelana Umno division meeting on July 30, 2017.

The 99-year-old claimed that during the speech, then-home minister Zahid allegedly dredged up a copy of an old IC, which purportedly stated the name “Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty”.

“Politicians will not mention the person’s name directly to safeguard themselves from being sued.

“His (Zahid) meaning of the phrase ‘orang itu’ (that person in the speech) is clear to everyone on earth.

“When there is an opportunity to lie, politicians will lie,” Mahathir told the Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon.

The ex-premier claimed that the “Kutty” allegation made it sound like he was a non-Malay who pretended to be Malay for political gain.

However, during cross-examination by Zahid’s counsel Sharul Fazli Kamarulzaman, Mahathir conceded that he does not know the meaning of the word “Kutty”.

Sharul: Does “Kutty” have any meaning in Kamus Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka?

Mahathir: “Kutty” is not a Malay name.

Sharul: “Kutty” has no meaning in Kamus Dewan?

Mahathir: I do not know.

The plaintiff conceded that he never met the National Registration Department to clarify the existence of any alleged old IC that may have the name “Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty”.

A registered Malay Muslim

The nonagenarian, however, reiterated that the allegation is pure rubbish as he is a registered Malay Muslim with the name Mahathir Mohamad.

Earlier this morning, Mahathir testified that Zahid, 71, had lied because nobody ever referred to the former premier as “Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty”.

Hearing before judicial commissioner Gan Techiong resumes tomorrow morning.

Remark not malicious

In his statement of defence, Zahid denied that the remark had ever been malicious, slanderous or harmed Mahathir’s public reputation.

The Bagan Datuk MP claimed that the name on the IC referred to an individual based on information in an old copy of an identity document.

The Umno president claimed he had no control over any video publication regarding his statement on the media platform.

Counsels Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali and Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi are acting for Mahathir.

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