The opening day of Mahathir Mohamad’s defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was cut short to under 30 minutes on Tuesday, as the former leader cited health issues during the proceedings.
The session at the High Court was adjourned following a request by Mahathir’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, after completing the examination-in-chief of the 100-year-old former prime minister.
Health Takes Centre Stage
Taking the witness stand as the first plaintiff witness, Mahathir informed Judicial Commissioner Donald Joseph Franklin about his frail condition.
“I am not fully functioning because I am on medication. I have not regained my strength properly,” he told the court.
When asked by the judicial commissioner if he was too unwell to answer further questions, the former Langkawi MP affirmed, prompting the court to reschedule the proceedings for Thursday. Anwar’s lawyer, Ranjit Singh, raised no objections to the adjournment.
In a brief press conference after the session, Rafique reassured the public of Mahathir’s condition.
“He is well, but he needs a bit of rest. He has taken a half-day off, but he will be back, fit again. On Thursday, he will face cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer,” he said.
Mahathir arrived at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Court Complex at around 9:35 AM. Dressed in a grey suit and blue tie, he took the witness stand at 10:38 AM, where he took his oath and signed his witness statement.
He left the court at approximately 11:04 AM without speaking to the media.
In his lawsuit, Mahathir, now 100, alleges that Anwar, 78, damaged his reputation by accusing him of racism and exploiting his 22-year tenure as prime minister to enrich himself and his family.
The alleged remarks were made during PKR’s special national congress at Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam on March 18, 2023.
According to Mahathir, Anwar referred to an unnamed individual who “had been in power for 22 years and an additional 22 months” and used their position to amass wealth for themselves and their family.
Anwar also reportedly claimed this person lamented that “Malays lost everything” after losing power.
Mahathir strongly denies these accusations, asserting that he has never been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing related to abuse of power or financial misconduct during or after his time as prime minister.
He further argued that Anwar’s statements were baseless, rooted solely in media hearsay rather than verified facts.
Demand for Accountability and Damages
Emphasising the responsibility of a sitting prime minister, Mahathir stressed that Anwar must ensure his public statements are grounded in evidence, not rumours or unverified reports.
He noted that his income has always been audited to confirm transparency in tax payments and sources of wealth.
Mahathir is seeking RM100 million in exemplary damages and RM50 million in general damages. Additionally, he demands a written apology from Anwar and a special press conference for the prime minister to retract and apologise for the statements.
