The settlement was recorded via Zoom this morning before Justice Hassan Abdul Ghani, with both parties agreeing to issue public statements.
As part of the agreement, Amzad retracted his statement made on Dec 7, 2022, while Anwar withdrew the suit without any costs.
SN Nair, Narendran Letchiemanan, and Wong Guo Jin represented Anwar, while Yusfarizal Yussoff and Faizi Che Abu acted for Amzad.
In a statement issued by Anwar’s legal team, SN Nair & Partners, both leaders said they had chosen to resolve the matter in order to focus on more pressing national issues.
“They also hope that this decision will be respected by all parties and will not be used in any manner that could disrupt Malaysia’s peace and harmony,” the statement said.
In his statement of claim filed at the Kuala Terengganu High Court on Dec 22, 2022, Anwar said Amzad had made several statements to a group of customers while dining at a restaurant on Dec 7.
He claimed that the statements were published on TikTok by user @nelly3868 that same day. The post garnered over 4,980 views, 62 comments, 116 likes, 18 favourites, and 50 shares, and remains accessible on the platform.
Anwar said the statements implied, among other things, that he was untrustworthy and dishonest about receiving millions of ringgit from the Selangor state government during his time as its economic adviser.
The statements also implied that he had misled the public about his RM1 salary, committed a crime, and betrayed the people’s trust, he said.
Anwar claimed that the statements were false, malicious, and disparaging, adding that he was highly respected nationally and internationally as someone who was against corruption.
“The defendant’s allegations in the defamatory statements are unfounded, and I was portrayed as an ex-convict although I had been given a royal pardon,” Anwar said in his statement of claim.
He also noted that former Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had told the Selangor state legislative assembly in 2012 that Anwar was only paid a symbolic RM1 for his advisory role.
His lawyer issued a notice on Dec 8, demanding that the defendant withdraw the statements, apologise, and promise not to repeat them. The notice, which received no response, also demanded damages from the defendant.
Anwar had initially sought damages and an injunction to prevent further publication of the allegedly defamatory remarks.