The prime minister's press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad has filed an application to strike out Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir's lawsuit against him.
The defendant's lawyer Ooi She Yi told reporters that he filed the application on grounds that the former Kedah menteri besar's lawsuit was scandalous, frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.
"The application was filed yesterday (Aug 9) and acknowledged to Mukhriz's lawyer today," the lawyer said after a proceeding in chambers before judicial commissioner Datuk Roslan Abu Bakar.
Counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla who is representing Mukhriz confirmed the matter. The court has set Oct 11 for hearing of the application.
Mukhriz, 51, filed the civil action on May 3 alleging that Tengku Sharifuddin had issued four defamatory statements, on April 15, 20, 23, and 26, against him.
The statements were issued under the headings, 'Prime Minister's Press Secretary Statement on Donation Confirmation by Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister', 'Prime Minister's Press Secretary Statement on Former DPM's Reuters Interview', 'Mukhriz Mahathir Statement: Response by Prime Minister's Press Secretary', and 'Prime Minister's Press Secretary Statement on Tun Mahathir Mohamed and Mukhriz Mahathir'.
Mukhriz claimed the statements implied that Dr Mahathir and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had conspired in an ill-intentioned campaign to topple the government which was democratically elected and that he was involved directly in the plot between Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin.
Tengku Sharifuddin in his statement of claim denied that the four statements had disparaged Mukhriz and stressed that the statements were to explain and counter false accusations against Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
In his statement of defence filed on June 14, he said he bore no malice in issuing the media statements which were published for information and in the interest of the Malaysian people.
He stressed that he had a duty and responsbility to defend the prime minister and counter the false accusations for the people to have an accurate picture and facts, which had been deliberately twisted by irresponsible parties for political interest.
He said as a civil servant and press secretary to the prime minister he had a responsibility and duty to provide explanations and statements on the political situation in the country and was also entrusted to act and issue statements on the political development in the country.
Tengku Sharifuddin said the media statements were fair comment and justified based on facts, issues and matters being debated at the time.
Bernama
Wed Aug 10 2016
Mukhriz, 51, filed the civil action on May 3 alleging that Tengku Sharifuddin had issued four defamatory statements, on April 15, 20, 23, and 26, against him. - Filepic
A.S sahkan 5 unit Israel cabul hak asasi sebelum perang
Amerika Syarikat mendapati lima unit pasukan keselamatan Israel bertanggungjawab atas pencabulan hak asasi manusia, pada Isnin.
Israel bunuh 40 rakyat Palestin ketika rundingan gencatan senjata bermula
Serangan udara Israel membunuh sekurang-kurangnya 40 rakyat Palestin pada Isnin.
A.S, Britain gesa Hamas terima cadangan gencatan senjata Israel
Setiausaha Negara Amerika Syarikat, Antony Blinken menggesa Pejuang Hamas untuk segera menerima cadangan Israel untuk gencatan senjata dalam perang Gaza dan pembebasan tebusan Israel yang ditahan.
Gencatan senjata sepenuhnya perlu dilakukan
Israel perlu bersetuju untuk menghentikan peperangan dan solusi yang dipersetujui oleh banyak pihak termasuk penyelesaian dua negara.
India rampas kapal bawa dadah bernilai AS$71 juta
Pihak berkuasa India turut menangkap 14 warganegara Pakistan dalam serbuan berkenaan.
Perkhidmatan feri percuma bagi pengunjung Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Utara
Perkhidmatan feri Pulau Pinang secara percuma disediakan bagi pengunjung PMR Zon Utara yang akan diadakan di Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong di sini selama tiga hari bermula Jumaat ini.
Qatar nantikan kata putus Malaysia dalam pelaburan Baladna
Lawatan keempat Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke Arab Saudi sempena Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) antara lain turut memberi penekanan dalam sektor agrikultur dan sekuriti makanan. Misi ini jelas serentak dengan tema forum ini iaitu 'Kerjasama Global, Pertumbuhan dan Tenaga untuk Pembangunan' yang mana Datuk Seri Anwar berkesempatan berbincang dengan Perdana Menteri Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani mengenai hasrat pelaburan ladang tenusu terbesarnya, Baladna dikomersialkan di Malaysia.
[TERKINI] Anwar bertemu Putera Mahkota Arab Saudi
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pada Isnin menghadap Putera Mahkota merangkap Perdana Menteri Arab Saudi, Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud.
Pertemuan yang berlangsung di Istana Al-Safa itu adalah atas undangan Kerajaan Arab Saudi seiring lawatan kerja tiga hari beliau ke Riyadh.
Pertemuan yang berlangsung di Istana Al-Safa itu adalah atas undangan Kerajaan Arab Saudi seiring lawatan kerja tiga hari beliau ke Riyadh.
SPR keluar 188 kertas undi pos
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mengeluarkan 188 kertas undi pos kepada pengundi yang berhak untuk mengundi secara pos pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB).
MCMC buat laporan polis
Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia (MCMC) menolak sekeras-kerasnya tohmahan tidak berasas seorang penulis blog Murray Hunter yang menuduh agensi itu dan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) sebagai institusi berlandaskan politik dalam pentadbiran kerajaan sekarang.