ALOR STAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today called on state Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar to stop seeking cheap publicity over the defamation suit award granted to him by the court.
Sanusi claimed that he had handed over the RM120,000 awarded to be paid to Mahfuz, through his lawyer last week.
"I have already surrendered the money to my lawyer last week. My lawyer is dealing with his lawyer, that's why I said this is a lawyer-to-lawyer arrangement since we have appointed our respective lawyers.
"He should not have used Facebook, TikTok or all that (social media platforms). There is no bankruptcy issue for not paying (because) everything is handled by a lawyer," he told reporters at the national Pas Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House held at Kedah Pas Complex here today.
Sanusi, who is state Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, further claimed that Mahfuz was using the legal suit award to ride on his popularity in the latter's bid to contest in the upcoming state election.
"I heard that he wishes to stand for the Derga state seat or in Pengkalan Kundur.
"Hence, he is riding on the popularity of whoever is popular at the moment.
"His popularity has sunk. For someone who lost (with majority votes of) 31,000 that's the easy way for him to revive his popularity," claimed Sanusi.
He was referring to the former Pokok Sena member of Parliament's defeat to Kedah Pas commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yahaya in the 15th General Election held in November.
On Oct 9, 2019, Mahfuz filed a suit against Sanusi over a Facebook posting linking the Amanah vice-president to the relocation of gambling premises to Pokok Sena.
Early last month, Sanusi was ordered to pay RM120,000 award to Mahfuz after the Court of Appeal turned down his plea over the case.