Tuan Ibrahim's defamation suit against Rafizi heads for full trial in September

New Straits Times

8 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The defamation suit between Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli over the approval of a RM2 billion project will go to full trial next month.
High Court judicial commissioner Avinder Singh Gill has fixed six days beginning Sept 8 to hear the former environment and water minister's lawsuit against Rafizi.
The court fixed the date during case management today.
Tuan Ibrahim filed the suit against former economy minister after the latter refused to apologise for his allegation that the former approved a project worth RM2 billion after Parliament was dissolved in 2022.
Rafizi had, in a press conference, demanded an explanation from Pas deputy president regarding the status of the Sungai Langat 2 flood mitigation project worth RM2 billion which is allegedly in the process of getting approval.
According to Rafizi, based on internal sources, the ministry was negotiating directly with a company, which could not be done by the interim government.
Tuan Ibrahim, in a counter statement, said no approval could be given for any financial allocation during the interim government period.
He maintained that he had never approved any allocation for any project following Parliament dissolution, and that no party had approached him to request the approval of the RM2 billion project.
Tuan Ibrahim described Rafizi's allegations as malicious accusations with distortions of facts and fraud that were aimed at slandering and destroying his credibility ahead of the 15th General Election in 2022.
It was reported that Rafizi had claimed that Tuan Ibrahim was in the process of approving a project worth RM2 billion ringgit for a company called Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd through direct negotiations for the Sungai Langat 2 flood mitigation plan.
Rafizi also alleged that Tuan Ibrahim was involved in the awarding of projects under the Jana Wibawa Programme.