In a statement of reply filed over his defamation suit against Sanusi, Anwar said Sanusi’s defence showed he had still maintained an “unapologetic attitude” towards him.
Anwar said the defamation was premeditated, malicious and was borne out of mala fide intentions.
Describing Sanusi’s reasoning as “oxymoronic and farcical”, Anwar said he was now entitled to adduce evidence of Sanusi’s own character and turpitude at the hearing of the suit.
Anwar had filed a suit for defamation against Sanusi in December last year.
Last month, Sanusi had in his defence to the suit said that Anwar had no basis to be “thin-skinned”.
He said Anwar had during his own election campaign speeches subjected his political opponents to multiple accusations which were not merely critical but also “defamatory” and “extreme”.
“It would be unreasonable and surprising for a politician who regularly calls others ‘thieves’, ‘stupid’, etc., to suddenly become sensitive when his opponents comment and criticise him based on his background which is known to the public,” Sanusi’s defence said.
Sanusi also said his comments about Anwar were based on matters which were derived from public records going back to 1998 when Anwar was sacked from the government.
The Jeneri assemblyman is relying on the defences of justification, qualified privilege, and fair comment to defeat Anwar’s suit.
Filed in the Alor Setar High Court, Anwar’s suit seeks damages from Sanusi for damaging his reputation.
Sanusi is alleged to have made his remarks on Nov 13 last year, six days before polling day for GE15.
He was speaking in support of PN’s Ahmad Faizal Azumu, whom Anwar eventually defeated in the contest for the Tambun parliamentary seat.
The speech was reported widely in the media. It was also captured on video and posted on Facebook.
Anwar’s statement of claim alleged that Sanusi’s remarks implied Anwar had abused his powers as an MP, was deceitful, a traitor, a hypocrite, and not a good Muslim.
Anwar said the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong had on June 16, 2018 granted him a full pardon of his three convictions – one for abuse of power and two for sodomy – citing a “miscarriage of justice”.
He said the pardon was also granted on the basis that there was a conspiracy to destroy his character.
Anwar is represented by solicitors S N Nair & Partners, while the firm of Yusfarizal, Aziz & Zaid acts for Sanusi.