Mahfuz Wants To Ride On My Popularity Sanusi

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Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claimed that the state’s Pakatan Harapan chairperson, Mahfuz Omar, wanted to ride on the former’s popularity by constantly creating issues about himself.
This was after Mahfuz (above, left) demanded that Sanusi (above) immediately pay him the RM120,000 compensation awarded in a defamation suit or risk having a bankruptcy notice filed against him.
“He wants to ride on my popularity, he had drowned by losing (in the last general elections) 31,000 votes. What better way to raise his name again?
“I heard he wants to contest in Derga in Pengakalan Kunder (for the state elections). So, whoever is at the top right now, he is riding on that.
“There is no case, but he’s creating one to make his name. That’s Mahfuz’s political strategy, from young to old,” he told reporters today at the PAS Kedah complex in Alor Setar. 
Mahfuz had previously said that he would discuss with his lawyer the appropriate action to take against the Kedah menteri besar, including confiscating Sanusi’s assets if he delays payments of the suit.
Last month, the Court of Appeal ordered Sanusi to pay RM120,000 in damages and RM10,000 in legal costs to Mahfuz after losing a defamation suit the latter filed against him.
After the payment was not settled past the deadline, which is 14 days from the day of the judgment on April 3, Mahfuz said he was mulling filing a cross-appeal to double the damages to RM240,000.
Meanwhile, Sanusi also claimed that Mahfuz was using social media to gain cheap publicity, when the matter at hand could be handled privately by their lawyers.
“I already handed money to my lawyer a week ago and they are dealing with his lawyer.
“This is why I said it is a lawyer-to-lawyer matter, we have both appointed our own lawyers. 
“There is no need to use Facebook, Twitter, and the rest. That’s cheap publicity. Let the lawyers deal with it,” he said.
Sanusi added that there was no issue of bankruptcy if the matter was due to non-payment. 
“If you want to go bankrupt or not, try and see. The lawyers are handling it, it is all proper. Follow the rules,” he said, adding that he did not want to interfere in the process. 
Asked if Mahfuz’s insistence was due to financial constraints, Sanusi said that it was not an issue of money. 
“I’m not sure but he had many pensions, such as deputy minister and MP pension. He has a lot of money but he just wants to ride on my popularity. 
“If not, how else does he want to rise up the ranks? His politics is dull and had reached its limit,” he said. 
Sanusi added that it was not unlike Mahfuz to use this opportunity to return to the political scene after losing in the 15th general election. 
“To reappear in the political scene of our country, that’s how he has always played politics - from then until now. He hasn’t changed,” he added. 
On Oct 9, 2019, Mahfuz filed a suit against Sanusi over a post uploaded on the PAS lawmaker’s Facebook which linked Mahfuz to the opening of a Sports Toto gambling outlet in Pokok Sena, Kedah.
In November 2021, the High Court upheld the suit and ordered Sanusi to pay the damages. He then filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal to set aside the High Court decision but it was dismissed. - Mkini

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