AN interesting exchange between Madani backers and seemingly the pro-opposition faction has ensued over purported resumption of the RM150 mil civil suit by twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad against his historical political disciple and protégé Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This came about after Threader R.H (@rashdan_hadif) highlighted that the said lawsuit will resume today (Oct 21) at the Shah Alam High Court and challenged PMX to make a personal appearance.
“If Anwar Ibrahim is not present tomorrow (Oct 21), this will prove that Anwar Ibrahim is a COWARD,” chided the self-proclaimed Kota Raja division UMNO Youth member.
The sharp-tongued post elicited a rebuttal from one HaSuriah Tahir (@suehasue) who recounted Dr Mahathir seeking to strike out a 2006 legal suit by PMX against his deemed “mentor” on grounds that it was “scandalous, trivial and troublesome”.
“Now in 2026 when he wants to sue Anwar, he doesn’t feel that it’s trivial anymore. Still busy with worldly affairs even when he can already smell the earth”.
Editor’s Note: PMX who was then recently released from prison and was beginning his political comeback had on Jan 27, 2006 sued Dr Mahathir for claiming at a September 2005 conference that he was dismissed as deputy prime minister in 1998 due to homose*uality with his se*ual orientation rendering him unfit to lead the country.
Another pro-Madani commenter chipped in that PMX’s personal presence is unwarranted, hence “suffice to send his lawyer/s”.
“Do you think Anwar has a lot of time to come to court? He’s the PM, walking up and down, meeting with foreign leaders inside and outside the country,” justified the legally literate عزمي (@aiznee.7).
Do you think PMX is like Hadi (PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang) who spends a lot of time outside but is often absent from Parliament?
When he comes, the entire village is boisterous (referring to opposition lawmakers flocking Hadi for photo opportunity whenever he shows up at the Dewan Rakyat). It seems like he only comes once or twice.
This is when one opposition-slant commenter teased that PMX “could spare the time to attend Siti’s (national songstress Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin) concert under the rain”.
“Even if he’s working round-the-clock for the rakyat, can’t he just spare an hour to attend the court hearing? This is about PMX’s reputation. He has been sued. Shameful,” jibed ء (@el.jahhh).
Case background
Recall that Dr Mahathir filed a RM150 mil defamation lawsuit (RM50 mil in general damages and RM100 mil in exemplary damages) against PMX at the Shah Alam High Court on May 3, 2023.
Additionally, a court order was sought for a written apology and an immediate retraction of the statements plus 5% annual interest.
The centenarian claims PMX delivered a defamatory speech during a special PKR congress at the Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam on March 18 that year.
In the speech, PMX in his capacity as the PKR president alluded to a leader who held power for “22 years and 22 months” whom he accused him of enriching himself, his children and his family as well as being racist.
PMX maintained that his statements made at the party congress were true and filed his statement of defence through his legal team.
The high-profile civil trial trial before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Donald Joseph Franklin has been re-scheduled to today (Oct 21), Friday (Oct 23) and Oct 29 after being postponed from Aug 19-20.
All in all, this case has been postponed several times mostly due to Dr Mahathir’s application.
The biggest postponement was in January 2026 when a five-day hearing (Jan 13, 14, 28, 29 and Feb) was postponed due to Dr Mahathir’s broken hip following a fall and his subsequent admission to the National Heart Institute (IJN).
Again in August this year, the scheduled hearing on Aug 19-20 was deferred to today (Oct 21) due to the change of the third Judicial Commissioner.
“Even the commencement day of the case in October 2025 was adjourned for half a day after Tun said he was feeling unwell and on medication. So, not attending tomorrow is not an issue of cowardice; lawyer representation in civil summons is indeed valid,” justified Meta AI. – Oct 21, 2026
Main image credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
