LTAT deputy chief executive Zakaria Sharif said there was no delay in making the gratuity payments as the LTAT’s financial position and its contract with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) were not the causes of delay, as alleged by PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli.

“As such, the accusation by the defendant (Rafizi) is defamatory and untrue.

“The defendant’s statements in linking the plaintiff (LTAT) and 1MDB is malicious,” he said at the trial of LTAT’s suit against Rafizi in relation to delay in gratuity payments to army retirees.

Rafizi is now PKR vice-president and Pandan MP.

The plaintiff’s first witness also explained that the gratuity payment had nothing to do with the project between Perbadanan Perwira Harta Malaysia (PPHM) and 1MDB.

On May 6, 2016, LTAT filed a defamation suit against Rafizi over his statements on gratuity payments to retired army personnel to seek general, exemplary damages and an injunction to prevent the defendant or his agents from publishing defamatory statements against the plaintiff.

In its statement of claim, LTAT alleged that Rafizi issued a statement with the heading entitled “Bayaran gratuiti pesara angkatan tentera lewat; LTAT perlu dedahkan risiko kewangan akibat 1MDB” on his blog and Facebook on March 21, 2016.

The plaintiff claimed Rafizi, on March 24, 2016, through Malaysiakini’s website, issued a statement with the heading, “Rafizi: I have document showing LTAT’s link to 1MDB”.

On March 28, 2016, the defendant made another disparaging statement in his Facebook with the heading, “Laporan ketua audit negara ke atas 1MDB mengesahkan kesan masalah kewangan 1MDB ke atas LTAT”.

The trial before Judge Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim continues on April 27.