The prime minister’s press secretary believes his four media statements on Mukhriz Mahathir are not defamatory.

Earlier, lawyer Jaharberdeen Mohamed Yunoos argued before Judicial Commissioner Roslan A Bakar that the statements, if interpreted, did not tarnish Mukhriz’s reputation.

“The statements were not defamatory,” he reiterated. “They did not ridicule him in the eyes of the public.”

He added the words Mukhriz complained about were not directed at him.

Jaharberdeen argued the claim against his client was not sustainable. “We contend fair comment and qualified privilege in our defence,” he said.

He pointed out the other side did not state malice in their original statement of claim.

Under the circumstances, he said, the suit ought to be struck out.

He cited the Defamation Act where pleading malice was the only way to defeat the defence.

Haniff Khatri Abdulla, for Mukhriz, argued there were issues that needed to be tried.

“Sariffuddin’s second statement on April 20 claimed there was a conspiracy on the prime minister’s position,” the lawyer said. Would that not be a direct target, he asked.

Mahathir and Muhyiddin had stated in their sworn statements that there was no conspiracy.

Mukhriz sent a letter of demand to Sariffuddin, asking him to retract his statements, but the latter continued to ridicule him, said Haniff.

“His statement claimed that Mukhriz was a liar,” said Haniff. “He said Mukhriz flip-flopped on the Umno deputy president’s post.”

Sariffuddin had alleged that Mukhriz was a power crazy politician. He was reported to have said that Mukhriz, along with his father Mahathir Mohamad and former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, had conspired to overthrow Najib Abdul Razak as prime minister.