KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has obtained an interim injunction from the High Court to prevent caretaker Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor from issuing, repeating or publishing defamatory statements against him.
Lawyer Datuk SN Nair, representing the Prime Minister, said Alor Setar High Court judge Justice Mahazan Mat Taib allowed the ex-parte application filed by the Pakatan Harapan chairman on Sunday.
“The injunction was issued to prevent the defendant (Muhammad Sanusi), his staff or agents from repeating or publishing similar statements that portray the plaintiff (Anwar) either directly or indirectly in any of the defendant’s social media channels, websites and any other platforms.
“The defendant is required to comply with this ex-parte injunction immediately after the delivery of this order to the defendant,” Nair said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.
Anwar, 75, applied for an injunction in his lawsuit against Muhammad Sanusi over the Mentri Besar’s alleged defamatory statements which were uttered during an election campaign event called “Jelajah PN Best Tambun” last year.
Nair said Anwar applied for the injunction after Muhammad Sanusi repeated similar defamatory utterances and statements which allegedly insinuated that the PKR president was “immoral” in two recent ceramah (political talks) – Jelajah PN Best Negri Sembilan in Nilai on March 18 and Jelajah Selangor Baharu-Selayang in Selayang, Selangor, on July 11.
According to him, the injunction order was served on Muhammad Sanusi’s lawyer at 12.30pm yesterday.
Anwar, 75, filed the suit against Muhammad Sanusi, 48, on Dec 13 last year.
In his statement of claim, Anwar stated that the libellous statements meant that he had obtained a royal pardon through fraud and remained unforgiven and had deceived the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He said it also meant that he is a liar, untrustworthy, unethical and betrayed the people’s mandate and that the statements were made with malicious intent aimed at inciting the public and creating personal hatred towards him and Pakatan during the campaign period for the 15th General Election that was held on Nov 19 last year.
Muhammad Sanusi, in his defence statement, said he had no malicious intent and that he was merely criticising Anwar.
