Kuala Terengganu: Embracing the spirit of Ramadan, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has decided not to continue the dispute with Kuala Terengganu Member of Parliament, Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, following the latter’s retraction of defamatory remarks made against him.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister’s senior press secretary, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, emphasized that forgiveness does not diminish a person’s status but rather elevates it as a servant of Allah. Tunku Nashrul highlighted that fasting should inspire individuals to reconnect with their fundamental nature, promoting constructive discourse and rejecting slanderous behavior.

He reiterated that Ramadan teaches Muslims to refrain from making baseless accusations, which not only cast doubt on the accused but also reflect poorly on the accuser. Tunku Nashrul urged the cessation of such harmful practices, particularly among Muslims, to prevent them from becoming a cultural norm.

The defamation suit, filed by Anwar in December 2022 against Ahmad Amzad, was amicably settled in the Kuala Terengganu High Court. Both parties reached an out-of-court agreement and issued a public statement. The lawsuit stemmed from Ahmad Amzad’s alleged defamatory claim that Anwar lied about receiving only a RM1 salary as the Selangor Economic Adviser.

Lawyer Datuk SN Nair, representing Anwar, stated that both parties chose to end the dispute after assessing the potential impact and legal costs, recognizing the need to focus on more pressing issues.