KUALA LUMPUR: Rafizi Ramli contends that his media statements on the alleged approval of a RM2bil project granted by a caretaker government were to invite the then environment and water minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat to explain the matter.
The Economy Minister said this in his statement of defence filed on Dec 28 last year.
Rafizi claimed that he has information on the communication and processes it took to award the project during the tenure of the caretaker government after the dissolution of the Parliament.
"The plaintiff (Tuan Ibrahim), as the then environment and water minister, should have accepted the challenge by the defendant to give an explanation.
"The defendant's effort is not malicious. It is in line with the defendant's right to voice an opinion and views as a politician, a citizen and a taxpayer, which is protected under Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution," he said in the statement.
Rafizi further contended that the issue he raised was for a healthy public discourse.
"The issue was on whether it was appropriate for a caretaker government to award a project of substantial value through direct negotiations without going through a tender process, whether it was appropriate for the government to award the project to the same company that received multiple projects from the same ministry, and whether the government was sincere and stern in stopping the culture of awarding projects during the tenure of the caretaker government," he added.
Rafizi said his statement benefited the people and the taxpayers, therefore it was wrong for the plaintiff to see it from the narrow point of view as if it was a personal issue between the defendant and the plaintiff and PAS.
In his response to Rafizi's statement of defence, Tuan Ibrahim said Rafizi made the allegations in his capacity as a politician and a candidate for the Pandan parliamentary seat during the 15th General Election campaign whereby he (Rafizi) used the defamatory statements as his campaign fodder.
The case is fixed for case management on March 31.
On Nov 17 last year, Tuan Ibrahim sued Rafizi, who is the PKR deputy president, for allegedly defaming him regarding the approval of several projects, including on flood mitigation.
In his statement of claim, Tuan Ibrahim alleged that Rafizi made defamatory statements against him at two press conferences at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya, which were streamed live on the defendant’s YouTube account, on Nov 7 and 9, 2022.
The PAS deputy president claimed that the statements implied that during the time of the caretaker government, discussions and efforts involving the plaintiff were actively conducted to approve projects worth RM2bil to Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd through direct negotiations for the Sungai Langat flood mitigation project.
The plaintiff claimed that Rafizi’s remarks implied that he approved two sewage treatment plant and sewerage pipe network projects in Papan, Kinta district, and one project for building a sewerage pipe network in Petaling Jaya to Mangkubumi, all worth more than RM2.3bil, apart from conspiring with then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to secretly award projects under the "Program Jana Wibawa".
The plaintiff claimed that the statements were false and made with malicious intent by twisting facts to give the impression that he was dishonest, untrustworthy and had exceeded his power as a caretaker minister.
