KUALA LUMPUR, 27 May 2009: Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today filed a RM100 milion defamation suit against Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman over his statement at a news conference in Washington recently.
The writ of summons was filed at the Civil High Court registry at the Jalan Duta Court Complex by Messrs SN Nair & Partners.
The suit named Anifah in his personal capacity and as Kimanis MP as first defendant, the foreign minister as second defendant and the Malaysian government as third defendant.
Anwar, who is also the opposition leader, is seeking RM100 million in compensatory damages, aggravated damages and exemplary damages and an injunction to restrain the defendants from futher saying, writing or publishing the alleged defamatory words.
In his statement of claim, Anwar said that Anifah, at a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the US Department of State in Washington on 16 May made a statement that Anwar had offered him the post of deputy prime minister if Anwar were to set up the government on 16 Sept last year.
Anwar also claimed that Anifah had defamed him by saying that he was attempting to buy over the MPs and was tarnishing the country’s image.
He said Anifah had sown hatred and anger towards him among the public, lowered his status, encouraged and started political contempt, clouded the truth and spread falsehoods.
He said he demanded a retraction of the statement, an apology and damages from Anifah through his lawyer, SN Nair, on 18 May but did not receive any. — Bernama
