KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) is suing former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for defamation.

       The writ of summons was filed on April 20 through Messrs Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq.

       In his statement of claim, Ahmad Zahid claimed that Dr Mahathir had defamed him by alleging that the Bagan Datuk MP had met with him to seek help with court cases.

       Ahmad Zahid has two ongoing cases in Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur.

       According to the court document, Dr Mahathir uttered the allegedly defamatory statements at a Pejuang event in connection with the Johor state election at Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana in Putrajaya on Feb 23.

       It was alleged that Dr Mahathir claimed Ahmad Zahid had come to his home with two or three others just after the 14th General Election, before the nonagenarian became prime minister for the second time.

       On the same day, a recording of the event specifically on the defendant's statement was reproduced or republished on Astro Awani's YouTube account that could be accessed online.

       Ahmad Zahid also claimed that from the alleged defamatory statements, news articles were published on several news portals.

       "The plaintiff pleads that the defendant had uttered the defamatory statements with malice and placed the plaintiff in a public scandal, therefore inciting hate from the public against the plaintiff," the document stated.

       Ahmad Zahid said the malicious statements were untrue, unwarranted, unsubstantiated and mischievous.

       Ahmad Zahid further said the alleged statements were meant to say that he was a person who could use "shortcuts" to resolve his ongoing criminal cases, that he was a dishonest and untruthful person, and that he had sought the help of the prime minister to interfere with his ongoing court cases, among others.

       "The plaintiff has never met with the defendant in relation to any court cases against the plaintiff or any investigations by government agencies against the plaintiff," it stated.

       Ahmad Zahid is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages as well as an injunction to stop Dr Mahathir or his agents from republishing the alleged defamatory statements.

       He is also seeking an apology from the defendant, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

       The case is fixed for case management before High Court deputy registrar Nor Afidah Idris on Wednesday (April 27).