KUALA LUMPUR: Caretaker Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz has threatened to take legal action against PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli over claims of his supposed involvement in the procurement of self-propelled howitzers for the army.
Ikmal Hisham has asked Rafizi for RM500,000 in general and exemplary damages as well as to remove the alleged defamatory statements against him and his family.
"If these demands are not fulfilled within seven days, we will take the matter to court," he said in a statement.
He also demanded that Rafizi publicly apologise and cease making such statements.
"Don't involve my children and wife in these political games just to win the support of voters," he warned.
Ikmal Hisham had on Oct 7 denied any links to the company that had been awarded a contract to procure the howitzers, adding that as the deputy defence minister, he had no authority to award such contracts.
He said the Defence Ministry's procedure for the procurement of assets was that it be handled by "the customer", in this case, the army, navy or air force, before the matter would be brought up to the Economic Planning Unit, the Prime Minister's Department and the finance minister for approval.
Ikmal Hisham said he had lodged a police report against Rafizi.
Rafizi had claimed that RM854 million was awarded directly to a company that was established only two years ago for the procurement of the howitzers.
He alleged that the company was jointly owned by the caretaker deputy minister's wife and son.