KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that all criminal charges he faced previously were part of a premeditated political conspiracy.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, in an amended statement of claim filed on Monday against Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, said it was a heinous vendetta staged to get rid of him from holding public office and tarnish his political career.
According to Anwar, he was the former Prime Minister and Finance Minister before Sept 2, 1998 and had a perfect track record as the person holding the second highest public office besides being listed as one of the top four finance ministers by Euromoney and named the best Finance Minister in 1996 by Asiamoney.
“However, I was removed from both public positions by those in power in 1998. To damage my reputation and image, I was charged and prosecuted with several fabricated criminal offences, put on trial and found guilty of all the offences charged and sentenced to imprisonment twice.
“Before I was sacked, I had vehemently and consistently maintained my innocence and insisted that all the criminal charges against me were part of a premeditated political conspiracy,” he said.
Anwar, 75, as the plaintiff, said this through an amended statement of claim filed in his suit against Muhammad Sanusi regarding the defamatory remarks linking him with immoral behaviour in a ‘PN Best Tambun Tour’ campaign.
According to Anwar, it was for those reasons that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong saw fit to pardon him on May 16, 2018, and restore his image and reputation.
He said the main purpose and effect of the King’s decree to order a Royal pardon was to fully and finally extinguish all or any infamy against him in respect of the criminal offences for which he was convicted.
“Although the defendant (Muhammad Sanusi) has full knowledge of this matter, he has recklessly and with no regard to the impact and effect of the Royal pardon, defamed me,” said Anwar.
On Dec 13, Anwar filed the suit through Messrs. S. N. Nair & Partners at the Alor Setar High Court, Kedah naming Muhammad Sanusi, 48, as the sole defendant.
Meanwhile, lawyer Datuk S.N. Nair, who is representing Anwar, when contacted by Bernama today, said the court document was served this afternoon on Messrs Yusfarizal Aziz & Zaid, the solicitors representing Muhammad Sanusi.
