KUALA LUMPUR - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has agreed to give Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim an extension of time to respond to his notice of claim regarding his allegedly slanderous statement at the 2023 PKR Special National Congress two weeks ago.
In a statement on Tuesday, Muhammad Rafique, on behalf of Dr Mahathir said that Anwar's lawyer, Thomas Phillip has previously requested time until April 17 to respond to the notice of claim.
"Our client has no objection to the request; he also reserves all his rights in this claim," said the law firm.
Last month, Dr Mahathir gave Anwar seven days to withdraw the accusations levelled against him.
Although Anwar did not name anyone in the speech, Tun Mahathir said, the people understood that it was directed at him when he mentioned the rule of 22 years and 22 months.
Following this, the veteran statesman demanded that Anwar retract statements issued against him.
With this, Dr Mahathir also demanded that Anwar make an unconditional and open apology with an undertaking within seven days.
Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman during the President's policy speech at the 2023 PKR Special National Congress, recently, said the people especially the Malays no longer need to be fooled by certain leaders' statement who claimed to fight for the rights of the race, but at the same time amassed wealth.