Defamation suit: March 24 set for Tuan Ibrahim-Rafizi mediation

Summary

• The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set March 24 for mediation to allow former environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli to explore the possibility of settlement in the PAS deputy president's defamation suit against the PKR deputy president.

• The civil action was over the allegation that the 2022 caretaker government, through the now defunct environment and water ministry, had tried to bulldoze the awarding of contracts worth billions for purported cronies.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set March 24 for mediation between former environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

The mediation is to allow parties to explore the potential to settle the PAS deputy president's defamation suit against the PKR deputy president.

Rafizi's counsel Aina Syazwani Mansor confirmed the civil court set the mediation date during the suit’s case management today.

The lawyer added that March 24 is also set for further case management to update on the outcome of the mediation. Rafizi (above, right) was seen conferring with his legal team in the public gallery of the courtroom today while Tuan Ibrahim was not present.

Tuan Ibrahim's lawsuit is over the allegation that the caretaker government, through the now defunct Environment and Water Ministry, had tried to bulldoze the awarding of contracts worth billions for purported cronies in 2022.

The plaintiff's civil action is targeting the defendant's two press conferences at PKR headquarters at Petaling Jaya, Selangor, on Nov 7 and Nov 9, 2022.

Tuan Ibrahim's lawyers then sent a letter of demand asking Rafizi to issue a letter of undertaking within seven days promising to cease making similar allegations, as well as make an apology. The defamation suit was filed on Nov 17.

Statement of defence

The caretaker government period followed on the heels of the dissolution of Parliament for the 15th general election in late 2022, ushering a transfer of power from the Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration and the current Anwar Ibrahim-led government.

In his statement of defence filed in December 2022, Rafizi claimed that he was merely inviting Tuan Ibrahim for an explanation over the alleged approval of a RM2 billion project which was granted after Parliament was dissolved in late 2022.

The Pandan MP denied his statements during the two press conferences were defamatory or done with malice.

In a reply filed on Jan 19, 2023, Tuan Ibrahim contended among others that Rafizi made false allegations in the defendant’s capacity as a politician and Pandan candidate during the GE15 campaigning period.

Tuan Ibrahim claimed this was strengthened by Rafizi’s alleged admission that he did not and had no intent to lodge a police report with MACC and would wait until his party won GE15 and formed the government.

Law firm Yusfarizal Aziz & Zaid represented Tuan Ibrahim.

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