Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the former Malaysian Prime Minister, testified in court on Monday, asserting that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi deliberately refrained from mentioning his name in certain statements to avoid legal repercussions. Mahathir, now 99 years old, is currently embroiled in a defamation lawsuit against Ahmad Zahid, claiming that while his name was not explicitly mentioned, the statements made by Ahmad Zahid in 2017 were clearly directed at him.
Mahathir explained to the court that although Ahmad Zahid’s comments did not name him directly, they contained clear references that pointed towards him, making it obvious to the public who was being discussed. Phrases like “in power for 22 years” were cited as evidence, alluding to Mahathir’s first term as Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003. Mahathir also mentioned his return to power from 2018 to early 2020, further solidifying the inference that Ahmad Zahid was indeed referring to him.
In his testimony, Mahathir accused Ahmad Zahid of using political tactics to obscure his target. “He didn’t mention my name because he is a politician who knows how to avoid direct confrontation. He intentionally left out my name to avoid being sued,” Mahathir remarked. He went on to say, “Politicians like to play it safe; they hide behind ambiguity to protect themselves from legal action.”
Mahathir’s sharpness and wit were on full display in court as he responded to the cross-examination by Ahmad Zahid’s lawyer, Mohd Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman. The exchanges between the two were tense, particularly when discussing whether Ahmad Zahid’s remarks could be traced back to Mahathir, given that he was not named directly.
During the proceedings, Mahathir, dressed in a dark-grey three-piece suit paired with a purple tie, didn’t mince his words. At one point, he quipped, “Politicians will lie if they see an opportunity,” underscoring his belief that Ahmad Zahid had been deceitful in his statements.
The crux of Mahathir’s defamation suit lies in comments made by Ahmad Zahid in 2017, during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Ahmad Zahid allegedly made statements concerning Mahathir’s ancestry, which Mahathir argues were defamatory. According to Mahathir, these comments insinuated that he was not born a Malay or a Muslim and suggested that his original name was “Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty.”
Mahathir contended that Ahmad Zahid’s statements falsely portrayed him as someone who claimed Malay identity for political gain and implied that he harbored negative views about the Indian community. On Monday, Mahathir testified that while he was born a Malay Muslim, his paternal lineage can be traced back to Kerala, India, but he refuted any suggestion that this heritage diminished his identity as a Malay or a Muslim.
Represented by lawyers Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi and Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, Mahathir is seeking general, exemplary, and aggravated damages from Ahmad Zahid. Additionally, he is requesting an injunction to prevent Ahmad Zahid or his associates from repeating the alleged defamatory claims.
The trial, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong, is set to continue on Tuesday, August 27. Mahathir is expected to face further cross-examination, and his son, former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, is also anticipated to testify in support of his father’s case.
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