Statement on secret pact true, says Tunku Aziz

Former DAP vice-chairman testifies in suit over his statement that Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Lim Kit Siang had secret pact to make Mukhriz Mahathir prime minister.

(FMT) – Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim today stressed his statements on a secret pact between former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang is true and justified.

Mukhriz, who is PPBM deputy president, is suing Tunku Aziz over two press statements last year, in which the latter claimed there was a “secret pact” to push Mukhriz and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang as prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively if the opposition wins the 14th general election (GE14).

Tunku Aziz, 84, who was continuing his evidence in the High Court here, said he was very sure with his source before writing the statement and his writing was justified.

“I am very sure I had used the appropriate judgment when writing the statement,” he said when cross-examined by counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who represented Mukhriz.

Haniff then put it to Tunku Aziz that the statement on the secret pact was made without any grounds and strong evidence, and that in fact it was taken from the blog of Raja Petra Kamarudin, an individual who was charged under the Sedition Act and had fled to the United Kingdom.

Tunku Aziz did not agree that Raja Petra’s blog was the only source he had used when writing the statement.

“The other sources for the posting were newspapers, blogs and Facebook sites.

“They are the basis for my writing and I made inferences to them.

“It is a view and I am not an individual who easily makes a mistake,” Tunku Aziz said.

Tunku Aziz said his witness statement was not intended to insult or degrade Mukhriz. He was acting on the belief that the people’s interests should be given priority, he added.

The hearing before Judge Nordin Hassan will resume on March 6.