Khairy maintains no defamation in Anwar's RM100m suit

Kuala Lumpur: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has maintained in a High Court that he had never defame Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by implying that the PKR leader was involved in an act of sodomy.Khairy said he did not defame Anwar when he gave a political speech on Feb 19, 2008 when he launched the election machinery of the Lembah Pantai Umno Youth division.

Questioned by his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, he said his statement meant that Anwar could not be trusted in his political relationships.

"I was talking about the merger or co-operation between the opposition parties, namely the PAS, PKR and DAP for the pure purpose of the election, and I was comparing such arrangement to a marriage of convenience or contractual marriage which basically is not meant to last and done only to achieve a specific short term temporary purpose," said Khairy.

Khairy is the first witness in the RM100mil defamation suit filed by Anwar against him. He said an online news portal did not report his statement accurately but he did not make corrections as he was extremely occupied with other matters.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Electrifying windows of opportunity in Sabah - The right policies, collaborations, and strategies can turn emerging opportunities into victories for all parties in Sabah.

CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s 2021 Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) have laid out a road map to an exciting future for all Sabahans, with a target of increasing Sabah’s income levels and GDP per capita from about RM 23,000 to about RM 40,000 by 2030.

Asked by Anwar's lead counsel J.Leela, he said his statement does not have any sexual connotation to portray Anwar as involved in an act of sodomy.

"The intention is to give a political speech. We pass comments which is fair comment. It is normal," said Khairy.

To a suggestion by Leela that the crowd's reaction that day implied that he made such remarks, Khairy said "I can't control how the crowd react. I can only say what I have meant."

He said he also did not portray Anwar as an immoral person.

Asked by Leela if to allege that someone is a homosexual is tantamount to an attack to their character, he said: "It is to some people."

Khairy denied that he had organised a road show after the Sodomy II case judgment to embarrass Anwar.

Questioned by Anwar's co-counsel Latheefa Koya, Khairy said his statement does not refer to sexual acts by political parties as "a political party can't have sex."

"It means PAS and DAP using each other for political purposes," he said. He said he could not remember if Anwar's former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had shared any facts with him over the Sodomy II case when he met him.

"I can't remember the circumstances but I have met him (Saiful)," he said.

At the outset, Judicial Commissioner Azizul Azmi Adnan said he would hear submissions before deciding on the objection by Leela over admissibility of certain questions and answers which she claims hearsay, contain more defamatory allegations and without basis.

Anwar filed a defamation suit against Khairy on March 7, 2008 alleging that the latter, then Umno Youth deputy chief, had uttered defamatory words and caused the posting on websites, including Malaysiakini.com of a video clip entitled "Anwar and kin no threat".

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

Anwar said the defamatory words, among others, meant that he was involved in activities contradictory to Islam, was not of good character and was not fit to hold political or other positions.

In his statement of defence filed on Oct 8, 2010, Khairy said he relied on the defence of justification and qualified privilege.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00