KUALA LUMPUR: A former political secretary to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is suing Bersatu Youth chief, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal for defamation and is seeking RM10 million in damages.
In a writ of summons and a statement of demand filed on Jan 22, Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak claimed Wan Fayhsal issued defamatory statements about him on Parliament grounds on Nov 14 last year.
The former Perak PKR chairman said it was obvious the statements made referred to him and implied he allegedly offered bribes or threatened members of Parliament (MP) to support Prime Minister Anwar and the current government.
Farhash also alleged that Wan Fayhsal's remarks implied that he had conspired and ordered a person known as "Datuk Botak" to offer bribes or threaten other MPs to back Anwar.
"The defamatory statements prejudiced me and degraded my professional character, leadership, reputation, and credibility.
"It was published on several social media platforms such as Parlimen Malaysia's Youtube channel, Tik Tok, and Whatsapp."
He said the post brought shame and disrepute to him in his personal capacity and as chairman and director of several public listed companies.
Farhash, who sits on the board of 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad and Apex Equity Holdings Berhad, is no longer active in politics.
He is seeking RM10 million in special damages, general and punitive damages, and an unspecified amount from Wan Fayhsal.
He also applied for an injunction order to bar Wan Fayhsal from repeating the defamatory statements and a court order for the deletion of related posts under Wan Fayhsal's social media platforms.