TAIPING: Perak Pas chief Razman Zakaria has apologised in court to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after claiming in an election campaign speech last year that the latter condoned LGBT practices.
The apology was made at the High Court here as part of a consent judgment to settle a defamation suit brought against Razman by Anwar.
Anwar's lawyer, S.N. Nair, said his client had agreed to the settlement as a "goodwill gesture" and to let the matter rest "in the interest of all parties".
"When a man repents and seeks forgiveness in good faith, it takes a gracious leader to rise to the occasion and accept the apology and withdraw the suit," said Nair, who said the settlement had vindicated Anwar.
The suit was filed on Dec 5 over Razman's claim that Anwar would promote the LGBT agenda, allow same-sex marriage and support communism if he becomes prime minister.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman and PKR president, stood as a candidate in the Tambun parliamentary seat during the general election in November.
He won the seat with a majority of 3,736 votes against Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and two others.
Anwar was appointed prime minister on Nov 24.
Razman is Gunung Semanggol assemblyman and leader of the state's opposition.
Anwar had demanded RM5 million in damages and an injunction to prevent Razman from making further defamatory statements about him.
The statement of claim said Razman's allegations implied that Anwar had abused his powers as an MP, was deceitful, a traitor, a hypocrite and not a good Muslim.