KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has rubbished Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s RM200mil defamation lawsuit over the Felda debt waiver issue.

       Calling it “merepek” (ridiculous), Muhyiddin claimed that Anwar’s lawsuit would be considered an abuse of the court process if it was filed in court.

       This was stated in Muhyiddin’s reply to Anwar’s letter of demand dated July 21 through law firm Messrs SN Nair & Partners.

       In Muhyiddin’s reply, filed through Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership yesterday, the former prime minister and Bersatu president remained steadfast and denied all allegations in Anwar’s July 21 letter.

       Muhyiddin’s letter stated that it was clear Anwar was mistaken in the Felda debt waiver issue, where a document and a press release by the Finance Ministry were on sukuk and not the Felda debt waiver.

       “Your client is still refusing to retract the defamatory statement and tries to twist the issue,” the letter said.

       The law firm said it had instructions to proceed with legal action.

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       On July 18, Muhyiddin sent a letter of demand to Anwar, seeking an apology and retraction for claiming he did not implement a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers.

       Muhyiddin’s letter of demand gave Anwar 24 hours to comply, failing which his lawyers would begin a defamation lawsuit against the Prime Minister.

       Muhyiddin also demanded that Anwar make an unconditional, public and written apology on his Facebook account and as well as other platforms.

       In Anwar’s reply dated July 21, it said it was a “misconception” by Muhyiddin when he presumed that the Prime Minister did not respond to his demands within the 24 hours given when the Prime Minister had responded via a media statement on Facebook dated July 20.

       “It is irrelevant in law or in procedure on whether the response was made through a Facebook post, or through the solicitors, or both. Therefore, it is a misconception and an action with bad intent by your client when he stated to the media that our client did not respond to his allegations,” Anwar’s letter of demand said.

       In his letter of demand, Anwar demanded an apology and RM200mil in damages as well as for Muhyiddin to retract his letter of demand and all statements he deemed defamatory as well as legal costs.

       Anwar is giving Muhyiddin 24 hours to comply with his demands, failing which he would initiate legal action.