Felda debt issue: Anwar countersues Muhyiddin for RM200mil

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is demanding an apology from Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and RM200mil in damages for defaming him over the Felda debt waiver issue.

This was stated in a letter of demand (LOD) dated July 21 from Anwar through law firm Messrs SN Nair & Partners.

The LOD was addressed to Messrs Rosli Dahlan Saravan Partnership, the law firm that represented Muhyiddin.

In the letter, Anwar claimed that Muhyiddin had defamed him when he did not respond to the former premier's allegations within a stipulated time.

On July 18, Muhyiddin sent an LOD to Anwar, seeking an apology and retraction for claiming he did not implement a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers.

Muhyiddin's LOD gave Anwar 24 hours to comply, failing which his lawyers would begin a defamation lawsuit against the Prime Minister.

Muhyiddin also demanded Anwar to make an unconditional, public and written apology on his Facebook account and as well as other platforms.

Anwar's letter stated that it was a "misconception" by Muhyiddin when he presumed that the Prime Minister did not respond to his demands within the 24 hours given.

"We refer to your client's LOD (Muhyiddin's) dated July 18 that gave our client (Anwar) 24 hours to reply.

"We insist that our client had given his response to your client in the stipulated time by way of a media statement on Facebook dated July 20.

"It is irrelevant in law or in procedure on whether the response was made through a Facebook post, or through the solicitors, or both.

"Therefore, it is a misconception and an action with bad intent by your client when he stated to the media that our client did not respond to his allegations," Anwar's letter said.

Apart from the apology and monetary damages, Anwar also demanded for Muhyiddin to retract his LOD and all the statements he deemed defamatory as well as legal costs.

Anwar is giving Muhyiddin 24 hours to comply with his demands, failing which he would initiate a legal action against the Pagoh MP.