IT’S YOUR LAST DAY TO SAY SORRY, SAYS MAHATHIR – SEE YOU IN COURT, REPLIES ANWAR – AND ON THE FEUD GOES!

Anwar prepared to face Dr M in court over amassing wealth claims

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is prepared to face legal action by Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the claims Anwar made that the former prime minister had amassed wealth for personal riches while in power.

A letter dated today (April 17) and sent by his lawyer Aliff Benhamin Suhaimi, states that Anwar denied all allegations made by Mahathir.

“For your information, we have been instructed by our client to deny all allegations and content in your letter.

“In this regard, our client is ready to answer any allegations – if any – in court and not through correspondence if your client wants to proceed with legal action,” the letter states.

Mahathir sent a letter of demand to Anwar on March 27, demanding that the prime minister retracts his claims made during his policy speech at the PKR Special National Congress 2023, on March 18.

If Anwar failed to respond to the letter, Mahathir said, he would proceed with legal action.

Anwar’s initial deadline to respond to Mahathir’s legal letter was April 3, but it was postponed to today after Anwar’s lawyers had asked for an extension.

Anwar did not mention names, but…

Though Anwar did not mention any names in his speech, he did refer to someone who “after 22 years and 22 months of being in power, is lamenting about Malays losing everything, losing assets, shares”.

“When you lose power, when challenged, when you are fearful of the MACC and Inland Revenue Board coming down hard… you are worth billions (but) you don’t pay your taxes, you move your wealth abroad. What sort of prime minister should I be then?” Anwar was reported as saying.

Mahathir claimed this was a clear reference to him as media reports on the speech mentioned his name.

On April 7, Anwar said that he had no qualms about providing evidence to Mahathir to back his claims.

“I don’t want to fight. He has asked for proof, I will give (him) proof, no problem,” Anwar said during a dialogue session with students at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

At the same event, Anwar had also taken a swipe against Mahathir, stating that while the latter’s governance had its strengths, the nonagenarian had also caused a lot of damage.  MKINI

It’s your last day to apologise, Dr M reminds Anwar

The former prime minister says he will proceed with legal action should his former protege fail to retract his claim.

Anwar Ibrahim alleged last month that Dr Mahathir Mohamad had enriched his family during his two stints in power.

PETALING JAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reminded Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that today is the last day for the latter to apologise and retract claims that he had enriched his family while in power.

The former prime minister said he will proceed with legal action should Anwar fail to do so.

Last month, Anwar took a veiled jab at the veteran politician at the PKR congress, claiming that Mahathir, who served as prime minister for 22 years under Barisan Nasional and another 22 months when Pakatan Harapan came into power in 2018, had enriched his family during his time in office.

That statement led to Mahathir issuing a letter of demand on March 28, asking Anwar to retract the claim and apologise.

Anwar has since asked for an extension until today, which was allowed by Mahathir.

The PKR president also said he will furnish proof to back statements he made at the congress.

Mahathir also took a swipe at Anwar, who recently said that he did not want to “pick a fight” with the former Langkawi MP.

Mahathir said he found it odd that Anwar made such a comment as the latter had been “slandering” him for the past few decades and had never presented any proof to back his claims.

Even then, Mahathir said that he had ignored such attacks, saying it was a tactic adopted by one desperate to become prime minister.

“Yet, he is still slandering (me) despite already becoming the prime minister,” he said on Twitter.

“So who is actually picking a fight here?”  FMT

MKINI / FREE MALAYSIA TODAY

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