Court tells Anwar's lawyers to 'stick to the crux' of RM150m defamation suit

The Shah Alam High Court today issued repeated reminders to lawyers representing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to “stick to the crux” of the RM150 million defamation case in their cross-examination of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Judicial commissioner Donald Joseph Franklin gave reminders to Razlan Hadri Zulkifli and Ranjit Singh following several objections raised by Mahathir’s counsels Nizam Bashir and Rafique Rashid Ali in today’s proceedings.

Nizam had noted that the impugned statement was that Mahathir is corrupt and had enriched his family.

“But the questions are touching on policy and politics, which are totally irrelevant to the impugned statement. If the questions are relevant, I have no problem,” said Nizam.

Razlan, in his reply, said that such “animosity from counsels” was not necessary.

Rafique promptly responded that there was no animosity, and what was “needed right now is to move forward with the trial expeditiously as possible for everyone’s sake.”

Anwar’s counsel, in reply to some of the plaintiff’s lawyers' objections, said that the Tambun MP is entitled to the best defence he can get and that they are putting questions for the former prime minister on defences that they had pleaded in the case.

Ranjit had also emphasised several times in response to Mahathir’s counsels’ objections, saying that Anwar’s pleaded defence had been accepted by the court, and that the lawyer cannot be seen abandoning what was pleaded.

Repeated objections

Nizam and Rafique repeatedly objected to Anwar’s lawyers’ examination of Mahathir’s statement of claim, witness statement, and remarks in his autobiography.

Ranjit, in particular, had attempted to refresh Mahathir’s memories on the 1988 judicial scandal, including the sacking of former lord president of the Supreme Court Salleh Abas.

The judge later said that it was not necessary to establish every word, and that cross-examination has to be on matters relevant to the defence.

“We are not here to prove the allegation (on) who engineered whatever (you have alleged). (If so) then we will need another five days,” said the judge.

Court proceedings ended at 3.30pm today, with the judge fixing Nov 12 for case management.

Mahathir, 100, had previously raised his frustration towards questions posed during cross-examination by Razlan and Ranjit in previous proceedings.

At that time, Mahathir had said that he may be dead before the case ends, in referring to several irrelevant questions put to him during cross-examination, including on Mahathir’s reputation and the defeat of Pejuang in the Johor by-election and the 15th general election in 2022.

Mahathir filed a lawsuit against Anwar over the latter’s claims that the former premier had amassed wealth for personal riches while in power, calling the claims baseless and intending to create a negative perception against him.

The centenarian is seeking RM50 million in general damages and RM100 million in exemplary damages, as well as a written apology, the immediate retraction of the statements, five percent annual interest on the damages from the date of filing until full payment, and any other relief deemed fit by the court.

Slight commotion

There was a slight commotion earlier with police insisting on not allowing journalists to sit in the open court, despite an internet connection problem disrupting a live broadcast of the proceedings.

For security purposes, media personnel are usually placed in a separate room to cover the proceedings via a video link.

Lawyer Latheefa Koya, who was present, told the police that the press cannot be barred from entering the court. After a quick glance into the gallery, she informed the officers that there was plenty of space for journalists.

They were eventually allowed to sit in the gallery after a court official intervened.

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