Malaysian
lawmakers in legal battle over "gay" slur

Here's a lesson in Malaysian politics: Don't call a lawmaker "gay." The country's former deputy premier, Anwar Ibrahim, has filed a lawsuit against onetime prime minister Mahathir Mohamad for accusing him of being gay, Agence France-Presse reported Friday. "We have filed a defamation suit against Tun Mahathir today. Anwar has a very good case, and we remain confident," his counsel Sankara Nair told the news agency. "We reiterate that our client is neither a homosexual nor a sodomizer." Anwar said he had intended to "move on with my life" after being acquitted in 2004 of the sodomy charges that triggered his termination and imprisonment in 1998. But Mahathir remains "defiant in repeating his allegations. I am now left with no choice but to proceed with this suit," he said in a statement, AFP reported.

The lawsuit, filed with the high court, said that Mahathir's "falsely and maliciously" made comments were widely reported by the media, causing "irreparable damage" to Anwar's reputation. They resulted in "considerable distress, anxiety, and embarrassment, entitling him to aggravated and exemplary damages," it said. Nair would not specify the amount of damages being sought. (Advocate.com)