Ahmad Zahid and Muhyiddin agree to end dispute involving defamation suit

From left: Ahmad Zahid and Muhyiddin.

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have agreed to end a personal dispute between them involving a defamation suit at the High Court.

In a similar statement posted on their social media accounts yesterday, they said they have decided to resolve the lawsuit after taking the advice of the court.

The defamation suit, filed by Ahmad Zahid against Muhyiddin over allegations of “seeking help in court cases,” was initially fixed to be heard in a full trial in October.

Both political leaders cited the nation’s current situation concerning the people’s welfare as a consideration for the settlement.

They also expressed their appreciation to the High Court and the court officials involved.

“We hope this decision is accepted and respected by all and not used as a tool to disrupt the nation’s stability, wellbeing and the people’s confidence in the judiciary,” they said.

Ahmad Zahid had filed the lawsuit on April 4, 2022.

In his statement of claim, Ahmad Zahid said that on Oct 19, 2018, he was charged at the Sessions Court here with 12 counts of breach of trust, eight counts of corruption, and 27 counts of money laundering, all of which were tried in the High Court.

He had claimed that on Feb 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 allegedly made a defamatory statement with ill intention and malice against him.

On the same day, he said, the video footage of the defamatory statement was uploaded to the Astro Awani YouTube channel, which is managed by Astro Awani.

The Bagan Datuk MP had accused Muhyiddin of having 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.

Ahmad Zahid had claimed that the allegations were false and aimed at tarnishing his good name and reputation and that it was made by the defendant after the Election Commission’s announcement on the Johor state election.

He sought general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an order for Muhyiddin to publish a public apology in newspapers, and other reliefs and costs deemed fit by the court.

In his affidavit-in-reply, Muhyiddin had claimed that Ahmad Zahid had shown him (Muhyiddin) a large stack of files linked to his criminal cases and asked for his help to intervene in the court proceedings during a meeting held at the former premier’s house.

Muhyiddin had alleged that he told Ahmad Zahid that he could not and would not interfere with the court proceedings and advised him to defend himself in court if he was truly innocent.

The defendant had also contended that there was absolutely no reason for Ahmad Zahid to show him the files and make such a request unless it was to seek his intervention in the criminal proceedings against him.

Muhyiddin in his court papers had also denied that the statements he made during the Johor state election campaign in 2022 were false or defamatory in nature, or were stated with malicious intent.