NIBONG TEBAL – “I will see him in court,” declared Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, after Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor insisted his lawsuit against the minister would proceed as planned.
Saifuddin’s statement came as both men had previously requested a postponement of the court case.
However, with Sanusi pressing forward, Saifuddin confirmed, “I will see him in court when a new date is set,” during a visit to the new immigration depot and quarters in Jawi.
On Thursday, Sanusi publicly reaffirmed his intention to pursue the suit, emphasising that it was necessary to protect the integrity of the Kedah state government.
He insisted that the lawsuit, filed in his personal capacity, was based on statements made by Saifuddin during the state election campaign last year.
In an interview with New Straits Times, Sanusi clarified, “We collected his baseless statements from the campaign and have sued him based on those remarks. This suit is against Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, not the Home Minister, so please don’t misunderstand.”
The legal battle stems from a suit filed on August 3 last year at the Alor Setar High Court, where Sanusi alleges that Saifuddin, also the secretary-general of Pakatan Harapan, defamed him.
Saifuddin reportedly accused Sanusi of misusing funds from the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris).
Additionally, Sanusi claims that Saifuddin made defamatory remarks accusing him of being involved in the theft of rare earth elements (REE) in Kampung Chong, Sik, in his role as Menteri Besar and representative of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI).
Sanusi has vehemently denied these allegations, maintaining that Saifuddin’s statements were unfounded and harmful to his reputation. — November 10, 2024