Mahathir seeks court direction on RM150 million defamation case against Anwar
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will update the High Court on December 4 about the next steps in his RM150 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The High Court has scheduled a case-management hearing for December 4, where Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will inform the bench of his intended course in a RM150 million defamation suit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Mahathir’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, requested a delay to give the centenarian plaintiff time to assess his options, citing his age, recent fall, and recent admission to the National Heart Institute.
Rafique also raised the possibility of conducting the trial remotely and restricting the scope of cross-examination. The hearing will be overseen by Judicial Commissioner Datuk Donald Joseph Franklin. Mahathir claims Anwar accused him of racism and personal enrichment during his 22-year tenure, statements made at PKR’s national congress in Shah Alam on March 18, 2023. He is pursuing RM100 million in exemplary damages, RM50 million in general damages, a written apology and a special press conference for Anwar to publicly retract the remarks.
Why it matters
The case could set a precedent for defamation claims involving senior political figures in Malaysia.
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