KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — Kedah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar is considering initiating bankruptcy proceedings against Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor unless the state menteri besar pays him the RM120,000 defamation compensation awarded by the court soon.
The former Pokok Sena MP from Amanah said he will discuss further action with his lawyer, claiming that Sanusi has missed a 14-day deadline for the payment that could increase to RM240,000 the further it is delayed, Sinar Harian reported today.
“I will discuss with the lawyer in the near future to pursue appropriate actions including confiscating the assets of the menteri besar if he still delays the lawsuit payment.
“I will wait for the lawyer's advice on whether to file bankruptcy against Sanusi or confiscate his property worth RM120,000,” Mahfuz was quoted as saying.
The Amanah politician was responding to Sanusi’s latest remark last Tuesday telling the former to let their lawyers handle the payment discussions instead of going after him directly.
But Mahfuz pointed out that it had been more than two weeks since the Court of Appeal ruling in his favour, adding that Sanusi could settle the issue by just paying up instead of getting the lawyers involved further.
“Muhammad Sanusi has legal options. He can transfer the money directly to my account, which is RM120,000 plus RM15,000 as court costs and RM10,000 legal costs making a total of RM145,000.
“Then notify the settlement via WhatsApp and it's done,” Mahfuz was quoted as saying.
Mahfuz had won a defamation suit against Sanusi at both the High Court and Court of Appeal, with the latter raising the compensation from RM50,000 to RM120,000 in its April 3 ruling.
The defamation suit was over Sanusi’s July 30, 2019 Facebook post linking Mahfuz as the then Pokok Sena MP to a matter involving the transfer of a Sports Toto outlet to the area.
If Sanusi is declared a bankrupt, he would be disqualified from holding public office or standing for elections.
Kedah, along with Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu, must hold their state elections this year as their mandates are due to expire.
