By Sheeda Fathil
SHAH ALAM, Feb 26 — The defamation suit filed by Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari against Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was amicably settled at the High Court here today.
As part of the settlement, Sanusi agreed to issue a public apology in open court before judge Rozi Bainun, over defamatory claims related to the Selangor Maritime Gateway project.
Amirudin was represented by lawyer Mohd Haijan Omar, while Wan Rohimi Wan Daud represented Sanusi.
Rozi ruled the matter was resolved between both parties and accepted Sanusi’s letter of apology to Amirudin as the plaintiff.
“The case is settled and closed,” she said.
Meanwhile, the court ruled the contents of Sanusi’s apology statement would not be made public and would only be recorded in court.
Amirudin’s lawyer Haijan said the first trial hearing was initially scheduled for today, but both parties reached an agreement and submitted a consent judgment to the court.
“As per the terms, the defendant issued a general apology to the plaintiff by reading the statement in open court on the date the consent judgment was recorded (today).
“The defendant also pledged not to publish, assist in publishing, or repeat similar statements in the future.
“This settlement is final and conclusive between the plaintiff and the defendant. Additionally, no costs are involved in this consent judgment,” he said.
The defendant’s lawyers, Wan Rohimi and Yusfarizal Yusof, raised no objections.
Amirudin had filed a suit against Sanusi on August 30, 2023, over allegations of a scandal linking the Selangor Menteri Besar to Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan.
The suit followed Sanusi’s claims Amirudin had handed over 243ha of land in Selangor to Tan.
Sanusi had also alleged that Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), or MBI, would suffer losses of up to RM180 million if Tan was awarded the RM10 billion river project.
