KUALA LUMPUR: PPBM deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir has applied for leave to cite Prime Minister Najib Razak for contempt of court for allegedly trying to influence the outcome of a defamation suit against his (Najib’s) press secretary.

The application was filed at the High Court registry here today after Najib refused to apologise and retract his statement made on July 7.

Mukhriz’s lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said High Court Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim would hear the ex-parte application.

The same judge is hearing the defamation suit which started today.

“I will hear the (contempt) application as soon as possible as the matter is separate from the trial,” the judge said.

On Monday, Mukhriz gave an ultimatum to Najib “to express his regrets” by 1pm yesterday (Wednesday), failing which he reserved the right to take action to protect his legal interests.

He said in the application that Najib’s statement was intentionally calculated to interfere with the course of justice, knowing well his suit against Tengku Sariffuddin Ahmad.

Mukhriz’s suit arose from an article entitled “Mahathir’s latest U-turn demonstrates his RCI panic” which referred to the royal commission of inquiry into Bank Negara Malaysia’s foreign exchange market losses between 1989 and 1993.

He said Najib stated in the article that “he (Mahathir Mohamad) is obsessed by saving his family legacy and making his son (Mukhriz) prime minister”.

He said Najib’s words were similar to those appearing in Tengku Sariffuddin’s statements which he deemed as defamatory.

Last year, Mukhriz, the former Kedah menteri besar and incumbent Ayer Hitam assemblyman, filed the suit over four media statements issued by Tengku Sariffuddin on April 15, 20, 23 and 26.

The press releases were titled “Prime Minister’s Press Secretary’s Statement on Donation Confirmation by Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister”, “Prime Minister’s Press Secretary’s Statement on Former DPM’s Reuters Interview”, “Mukhriz Mahathir’s Statement: Response by Prime Minister’s Press Secretary” and “Prime Minister’s Press Secretary’s Statement on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir”.

In his defence Tengku Sariffuddin said he had never defamed Mukhriz in any of his media statements seeking to clarify issues and untruths spread about Najib.

Tengku Sariffuddin said the statements were published based on qualified privilege and without malice.

He said his media statements were made in his official capacity to prevent rumours or political allegations made against the prime minister.