Muhyiddin confirms PMO's warning to Puad Zarkashi before lawsuit

KUALA LUMPUR - Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, at the High Court here today, confirmed that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had issued a warning to Umno Supreme Council Member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi to apologise or face legal action two years ago.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman said this during a cross-examination session by lawyer G Rajasingam, who represented Puad, who is also Rengot assemblyman, in front of Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz.

Rajasingam: My client's foster son actually made a clarification and had no intention to tarnish Tan Sri's (Muhyiddin's) image. Would Tan Sri agree that the PMO's statement (Feb 9, 2021) was more of an accusation than an explanation? Muhyiddin: Yes.

Rajasingam: That's a form of warning? Muhyiddin: A warning.

Rajasingam: Tan Sri has served in the government for a long time, but has the PMO ever issued such a warning before? Muhyiddin: (Only) in certain cases.

Rajasingam: I suggest that this is the first case brought by the PMO? Muhyiddin: Yes.

Rajasingam: Then on Feb, 16, 2021, the letter of demand for a lawsuit (LOD) was issued against Puad? Muhyiddin: Yes.

On that date, Muhyiddin, in his personal capacity, through the law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership, demanded that Puad publicly apologise and pay RM10 million in damages for allegedly defaming him in a Facebook post.

The claim was made because Puad depicted that Muhyiddin refused to be quarantined upon returning from an official visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, on Feb 5, 2021, leading to the government having to announce a three-day quarantine order for ministers.

Meanwhile, the Pagoh MP confirmed that the defamation allegations by Puad on his Facebook page, titled 'Quarantine, is it two degrees?' were serious crimes.

However, he stated that no reports were filed at the police station or on Facebook, either by himself or PMO officials.

Asked about the alleged defamation report, the President of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) agreed with Rajasingam's suggestion that Puad's statements, republished in four articles, did not clearly indicate that Muhyiddin had abused his position as the Prime Minister, refused to undergo quarantine, and had a tantrum at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang upon returning from Jakarta.

"Correct," said Muhyiddin after being questioned if the article in question was a form of inquiry or question rather than a statement or explanation leaning towards defamation.

In February two years ago, Muhyiddin demanded that Puad, who is also the Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly to publicly apologise and pay RM10 million in damages for allegedly defaming him.

The claim was made in response to Puad's statement that Muhyiddin refused to be quarantined upon returning from an official visit abroad.

In addition, Muhyiddin demanded that Puad issue a written undertaking not to repeat or publish similar or identical statements in any manner whatsoever.

On Feb 9, the PMO, in a statement, denied Puad's allegation that a three-day quarantine order for ministers returning from overseas visits was reported by the government because the Prime Minister refused to be quarantined upon returning from an official visit to a neighbouring country.