The Malaysian Insight

DR Mahathir Mohamad admitted in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that he has been trying to topple Najib Razak since 2014 as the prime minister has put the country in bad light.

He also said that it was alright for his party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to go up against Umno in achieving this goal, as Umno equals Najib, and the party is not what it was like before.

The Pakatan Harapan chairman said this when cross-examined by lawyer Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos in the trial of Mukhriz Mahathir’s defamation suit against Najib’s press secretary Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad.

The former prime minister said it is true he wanted to bring down the Najib administration, saying that it was a corrupt regime.

“It was Najib that put Malaysia’s image in a bad light, not me.”

Dr Mahathir was on the stand for about 10 minutes but spent more time later obliging requests for photographs from court staff and even the defendant’s lawyers. 

He was the second witness to be called to the stand today.

Dr Mahathir’s lawyer Mohammed Haniff Khatri Abdulla earlier tendered his written statement to the court.

The 10-page document contained questions and answers on the libelous statement made by Sariffuddin as published in the media.

Haniff later told The Malaysian Insight that Dr Mahathir’s testimony today was significant to rebut the allegation that he was pushing his son, Mukhriz, to be the prime minister.

Najib had said Dr Mahathir’s actions in trying to get him ousted were motivated by selfish and personal interests.

“The plaintiff’s questions were all in the written statement which was signed by Dr Mahathir in court today. The copies were also given to the defendant’s lawyer.

“The questions by the plaintiff’s lawyer were not asked in open court but the defendant was allowed to cross examine witnesses from Mukhriz’s side,” Haniff said.

The plaintiff Mukhriz also earlier took the stand for cross examination where he was questioned on technicalities and the usage of words in the articles that contained the allegedly defamatory statement.

Mukhriz filed the suit on May 3 last year claiming that Sariffuddin had issued four libelous media statements against him on April 15, 20, 23 and 26, and is seeking damages for loss of reputation.

The former Kedah mentri besar said he had given notice through a media statement on April 21 that Sariffuddin retracts his statements or risk legal action.

The next hearing dates are on October 19, 20 and 21. – July 14, 2017.