KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 – Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, has filed an application with the High Court to direct Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to submit his defense statement in the ongoing defamation lawsuit. Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, the lawyer representing the former Member of Parliament for Langkawi, stated that the application, known as the “disclosure of documents,” was filed on Thursday. “The documents are related to Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd (KPB) by Petronas and the International Shipping Corporation of Malaysia (MISC).
“Furthermore, contracts by Telekom Malaysia Bhd to Opcom Cables Sdn Bhd, fabrication licenses by Petronas to Kencana Petroleum Bhd, and others,” he said when contacted on Friday. Earlier, the media reported that Dr. Mahathir was asked not to evade the “real statement” regarding the assets owned by him and his family. Anwar claimed that the public was well aware of the wealth owned by the former Prime Minister. The application was also filed by the former Member of Parliament for Langkawi because Anwar had stated that he would provide evidence, but until now, no documents have been presented.
Muhammad Rafique also informed that the Member of Parliament for Tambun’s statement seemed to imply that Dr. Mahathir had abused power during his tenure as Prime Minister. He stated that the Chief Justice, Zaharah Hussain, directed Anwar to file an affidavit in response to the application on August 11. “We will then have the opportunity to respond to the affidavit on August 25, and both parties must submit their arguments on September 8 and 22. “After that, the court will decide on Dr. Mahathir’s application on October 2,” he said.
