Moving on for the people

Zahid, Muhyiddin say ceased court action a mutual decision

HULU SELANGOR: Two political heavyweights, who put aside their quarrel which could otherwise lead to a court trial in October, said the people’s welfare had weighed on their mind in making the decision.

“Let’s prioritise the rakyat’s agenda and leave personal issues aside,” said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Steps were taken to harmonise the situation, he told reporters outside the nomination centre for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election here yesterday.

On Friday, Ahmad Zahid and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced separately that they had agreed to end a personal dispute between them which began two years ago with a defamation suit filed by the Umno leader against the former prime minister.

Ahmad Zahid had taken legal action on April 4, 2022, against Muhyiddin for accusing him of “seeking help in court cases”.

Their statements on Friday said they had decided to resolve the case after taking the advice of the court.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin told reporters that it was a mutual decision by him and Ahmad Zahid.

“We are aware of the current situation and I do not want to further debate on this.

“Our lawyers have brought this forward and the court has agreed, and that has been announced,” said the Perikatan Nasional chairman.

In his statement of claim, Ahmad Zahid said that on Oct 19, 2018, he was charged at a Sessions Court with breach of trust, corruption and money laundering, all of which were tried in the High Court.

He claimed that on Feb 16, 2022, during the Johor election campaign trail in Mersing, Muhyiddin had allegedly made a defamatory statement against him.

He accused Muhyiddin of having implied, among others, that he had used a “shortcut” to settle and postpone his court cases.

In his affidavit-in-reply, Muhyiddin claimed that Ahmad Zahid had shown him (Muhyiddin) a large stack of files linked to his cases and asked for his help to intervene in the court proceedings.

Muhyiddin had alleged that he told Ahmad Zahid that he could not do so and would not interfere with the court proceedings and advised him to defend himself in court.

In his court papers, Muhyiddin also denied that the statements he made during the Johor election campaign were false or defamatory in nature, or were stated with malicious intent.