Testifying as the first witness in his RM150 million defamation suit, centenarian Mahathir said Anwar’s remarks about “someone in power for 22 years and 22 months” were a clear reference to him.
The remarks were made during the PKR Special National Congress on March 18, 2023. Mahathir filed the suit two months later.
He said Anwar’s remarks implied that Mahathir had enriched himself, his family and cronies, failed to pay taxes, and moved funds abroad.
During examination-in-chief by his counsel, Rafique Rashid Ali, Mahathir explained why he was taking legal action against the 78-year-old prime minister.
Rafique: Why did you sue Anwar Ibrahim?
Mahathir: Anwar has always hurled accusations against me. When he did so before becoming prime minister, it didn’t affect me. But after he assumed the post and repeated the same accusations, it had a serious impact on me, as reflected in the comments made on social media.
Mahathir said none of the evidence produced by Anwar showed that he had siphoned government funds, insisting that his only source of income was his salary.
He argued that as prime minister, Anwar had ample resources to verify his claims and should not rely on assumptions or public gossip.
Mahathir further maintained that he was neither involved in nor had given instructions relating to the events cited in Anwar’s defence.
These included the 1997 bailout of Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd, where his eldest son Mirzan Mahathir was a shareholder and director; the RM214.2 million contract to supply fibre optic cables to Opcom, where his son Mukhriz Mahathir was a director; and the RM11.157 million Unifi partner supplier contract to the same company.
Other events included a fabrication licence granted to Kencana Petroleum Bhd, linked to his son Mokhzani Mahathir in 2002, and the government’s injection of funds into Perwaja Steel, where Eric Chia served as group managing director.
“None of that had my involvement or instruction as alleged by Anwar,” he said.
The proceedings were cut short after Rafique requested an adjournment due to his client’s health condition.
Mahathir told the court he was under medication and, therefore, “not fully functional”.
The hearing before judicial commissioner Donald Joseph Franklin will resume on Oct 23.
Anwar was represented by Ranjit Singh, Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi and Razlan Hadri Zulkifli, while Rafique and Nizam Bashir Kariem Bashir appeared for Mahathir.