KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should not take offence at legitimate criticism levelled at him during political speeches, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic).
The Perikatan Nasional chairman said this in his statement of defence against Anwar's defamation suit over allegations that he (Anwar) had received RM15mil for serving as Selangor's economic adviser.
"The defendant states that the plaintiff, as the head of the unity government, the leader of Pakatan Harapan and the current Prime Minister, should not take offence at legitimate criticism and queries posed by the defendant during political speeches.
"The defendant further states that the plaintiff ought to have openly and wholeheartedly responded to the queries posed and deny any allegations which he asserts as false," Muhyiddin said in his statement, filed through Messrs Chetan Jethwani on Tuesday (Jan 17).
Muhyiddin said the alleged slanderous words – part of a speech he gave during a political event during the parliamentary campaign for Padang Serai, Kedah – were "fair comment on a matter of public interest".
He contended that as a politician and Perikatan chairman, he had an existing and established relationship with the electorate in Padang Serai.
"In view of the relationship, the defendant has a legitimate duty to provide information to the party members and electorate within the constituency and to express his opinion on the qualifications of those who hold public office," the statement of defence read.
On his speech being republished, Muhyiddin said he had no control or knowledge of the TikTok account under the name "@beritakini8" that reportedly did so.
On the uploading of the speech on his Facebook account under the name "Muhyiddin Yassin", he stated that he did not personally control or upload materials to his Facebook account.
Anwar filed the lawsuit against Muhyiddin on Dec 19.
In the statement of claim, Anwar said that Muhyiddin gave an election speech at Taman Selasih in Kulim on Dec 5, in support of Perikatan candidate Datuk Azman Nasrudin, where the Pagoh MP made those claims.
Anwar, who is the Tambun MP, said the defendant then republished his entire speech on his Facebook account under the name Muhyiddin Yassin.
The plaintiff said the slanderous words were meant to say that he was unreliable and untruthful about accepting millions from the Selangor state government as the economic adviser, that he was unethical, unprincipled, corrupt, a hypocrite and not a good Muslim.
He is seeking general, compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages.
The plaintiff is also seeking an injunction to restrain the defendant from further repeating the slanderous words.
