KUALA LUMPUR: The defamation suit filed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi against former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix) was settled amicably in the High Court today.
Ahmad Zahid sued Muhyiddin over the allegation that he had sought the latter’s help to settle or postpone his court cases.
According to their respective Facebook posts, Ahmad Zahid and Muhyiddin agreed to end their dispute and stop court proceedings.
“This decision is in consideration of the impact of the defamation suit on the public and taking into account advice from the High Court Judge as well as the current state of the country that must be prioritised, especially the matter of people’s livelihood,” according to the posts.
Both expressed their appreciation to the judge and court officers involved in the case, adding that they hoped all parties would accept and respect their decision and not use it to disrupt public well-being and stability and the people’s confidence in the country’s judiciary.
Ahmad Zahid’s counsel, Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, told Bernama that both parties notified Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong of their intention to settle the case during the case management via a video conference today.
The court had previously scheduled the trial for 10 days starting October 16.
In the suit filed on April 4, 2022, Ahmad Zahid, 71, claimed that on February 16, 2022, during the 15th Johor state election campaign trail in Mersing, at the compound of the Learning Centre Sentuhan Kasih Felda Tenggaroh 3, Muhyiddin had made a defamatory statement with ill intention and malice against him.
Ahmad Zahid claimed that Muhyiddin’s statement implied that he had used a shortcut to settle and postpone his ongoing court cases, that he had asked for Muhyiddin’s help to intervene in the court cases and the judiciary system, to order the dissolution of the Johor State Assembly and also implied that he was not a respectable and exemplary leader.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin, 76, in his defence statement filed on May 9, 2022, claimed that the statements he made regarding Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asking for his help to intervene in his court cases were true and not defamatory.
The Bersatu president claimed that the statements he made during the Johor state election campaign were mostly justified as true and fair comments as well as of public interest.
