Mahathir Slaps Zahid With Legal Letter Over Umno Land Allegations

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Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has served a letter of demand to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over allegedly defamatory remarks linked to a plot of Umno-owned land.
ADSIn a statement, Mahathir’s lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said his client is demanding Zahid hold a press conference at the Umno headquarters, admit to making a defamatory statement, and issue a public apology.
“The apology should be unconditional, including an undertaking that you and/or any other related parties shall not, under any circumstances, make any further statements and/or writings and/or publications that touch upon the reputation, integrity, and credibility of our client,” said Rafique.
Rafique Rashid AliHe said Zahid must agree to the undertaking within seven days of the notice being served.
The former Umno president is also seeking for Zahid to publish a written apology in newspapers and on all his official social media platforms, and for it to be kept online for at least 30 consecutive days.
“Mahathir reserves his right to take legal action in relation to this matter should it be deemed appropriate and necessary, including against other parties,” Rafique added.
Land transfer matter
Earlier today, Zahid expressed his appreciation to Mahathir for his “cooperation” with the party over the land matter.
The dispute centres around Lot 40, Section 51 in Kuala Lumpur, currently occupied by the Seri Pacific Hotel and situated next to the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre and Menara Dato’ Onn - the latter being Umno’s headquarters.
Mahathir previously described the claims as slander, denying accusations that he had refused to approve the transfer of the land to Umno.
Umno’s headquarters at Menara Dato’ OnnHe said he and three other trustees - the late Daim Zainuddin, the late Sanusi Junid, and Musa Hitam - had signed a statutory declaration (SD) in 2015 to support the transfer, but the application was rejected two years later due to technicalities.
On April 17, Mahathir reiterated that all four trustees had signed the SD to facilitate the application, and took aim at Zahid and Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi, accusing them of making slanderous statements regarding the land deal. - Mkini

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