28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sanusi says Saifuddin REE allegations damaged his reputation
ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor told the High Court here today that allegations made against him by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in 2023 had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing.
Testifying in his defamation suit against Saifuddin, the Jeneri assemblyman said that accusations of stealing rare earth minerals and misappropriating RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) funds had cost him votes during the 2023 Kedah state elections.
He told High Court Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee that the remarks, made on July 15, 2023, were particularly damaging as they had come from the Home Minister.
"After the election, although I received a high number of votes, had those statements not been made, my majority could have been 30,000 instead of 16,000. The impact continues to be felt even today," he said when questioned by his counsel.
Sanusi disagreed with the defence's suggestion that the remarks did not defame him.
Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim through Faizi and Associates at the Alor Star High Court on Aug 3, 2023.
He alleged that Saifuddin, also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused funds from MARRIS.
According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin allegedly made defamatory statements during a speech at the Unity Tour Programme and the launch of the Kedah Unity Machinery event at Guar Chempedak public field in Yan on July 15, 2023, at 8.30pm.
The speech was part of a political campaign by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the lead-up to the state elections in August.
Sanusi claimed that Saifuddin made defamatory remarks accusing him, as Menteri Besar and representative of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), of stealing rare earth elements (REE) in Kampung Chong, Sik, which received widespread media coverage.
Earlier today, the plaintiff's side called four witnesses to testify, including Kedah MBI former CEO Muhamad Sobri Osman.
Sanusi is represented by lawyers Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Yusfarizal Yussof, Mohd Faizi Che Abu, and Nur Iffah Hizwani Omar, while the defence team comprises lawyers Navpreet Singh, William Leong, and Sakina Siraj.
Proceedings are set to resume tomorrow at 11am, with Saifuddin and another witness expected to testify.
