“Yes, it was talked of among BN analysts between 2016 and 2017,” he said when testifying in his defamation suit against former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim on an alleged “secret pact”.
He was asked by Tunku Aziz’s lawyer, Jaharberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, whether he knew Lim was being discussed by the public and political pundits as PH’s deputy prime minister candidate.
However, Mukhriz said the deputy prime ministerial candidacy of Lim was not a “hot topic” among the people.
“I do not think he was the talk on the ground,” Mukhriz added.
He is suing Tunku Aziz over two press statements last year, in which the former DAP leader claimed there was a “secret pact” to push Mukhriz and Lim as prime minister and deputy prime minister, respectively.
He is seeking damages as well as an apology from Tunku Aziz.
Mukhriz told the court that he did not know Tunku Aziz personally, but knew that the latter had previously been a DAP member.
“I also recently came to know he is a political analyst,” he said.
Jaharberdeen asked Mukhriz if he agreed that Tunku Aziz could make the statements on the “secret pact” in his capacity as an ex-DAP top leader, as he knew how the party leadership functioned.
“I cannot answer this question on behalf of him,” Mukhriz replied.
The case will resume on Feb 27 before Justice Nordin Hassan. Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be the next witness.
Before the adjournment, Nordin told those involved in the case, including Mukhriz and Tunku Aziz, not to make media statements while it was still at the hearing stage.
“This may be sub judice,” he said.