GOMBAK – Caretaker Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari will be initiating legal action against his Kedah counterpart, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
Amirudin said legal letters will be delivered to Sanusi by Thursday over slanderous statements issued by Sanusi on the RM700 million Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) project.
“My lawyers are looking into the matter. God willing, the (defamation claim) letter should be received by Sanusi either tomorrow or, at the latest, by Thursday.
“I hope he won’t try to run away from it,” he said during a press conference at his service centre here today.
The Selangor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman also directed his ire at Bersatu central information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, who yesterday lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) related to the SMG project.
“I have already explained why we stuck with Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd’s appointment after the company was initially appointed by (former state menteri besar) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali in March 2018.
“I have also already stated that my position in the company is to represent the state government. People (such as) Chegubard who have no dignity should not be entertained,” said Amirudin.
Adding that the accusations made by the duo against the SMG project have already been addressed during previous parliament and state assembly sessions, Amirudin defended his decision to turn to the courts since responses to the allegations have gone ignored.
“(Sanusi) thinks that by throwing around slanderous statements against me, he can gain access to heaven’s gates, but he might be paving the way to enter the wrong gates.
“Don’t we have a right to defend ourselves (by taking) legal action? Are we supposed to just cry?” he questioned, joking that Sanusi will have to publicise his apologies to other planets if he wishes to be let off the hook anytime soon.
“When we sue them, they get angry. You will have to apologise until Mars and Saturn (since) you are criticising the credibility of government administrators and professional subsidiaries. Are they kayu (useless)?
“This is their (Perikatan Nasional) attitude towards civil servants and subsidiaries, it’s embarrassing (how you are) a leader but you continue to deny the contributions of others.”
Previously, Sanusi had “exposed” a scandal involving Amirudin and Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan by claiming that the businessman wished to undertake a RM10 billion project at the Klang River by obtaining 242.8ha of land while involving a company under the state-owned Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated.
He also alleged that the state government would lose about RM180 million from the project.
Yesterday, Tan had issued a letter of demand to Sanusi for a public apology and RM200 million in compensation over the claims of impropriety.
The letter gave Sanusi until today to agree to the demands before Tan will proceed with legal action against him. – August 8, 2023