Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has demanded that Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua apologise and retract a Facebook video clip which was deemed defamatory.

In a letter of demand that was served on Pua today, Najib's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun said the video clip in question had implied that his client had committed theft and abused his power.

"Contrary to your defamatory statements above, our client is not a tyrannical and oppressive kleptocrat nor does he shun criticisms, neither he is a leader involved in corrupt practices nor a leader who steals the people's monies.

"Accordingly, your entirely baseless and false allegations are intended to disparage our client's high political standing, immense goodwill both local and international and unblemished record of performance.

"In doing so, you were acting with malice prepense," said Hafarizam (photo).

He said his client is also demanding a written apology to be published in two newspapers, that Pua stops making defamatory statements against the premier and legal costs.

If Pua failed to do so, Hafarizam said he was under strict instructions to initiate legal proceedings.

Pua unfazed

The video clip in question was uploaded on April 6, shortly after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's motion on amendments to the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 was tabled.

According to Hafarizam's transcript of the said video clip, Pua had complained that Putrajaya had set a precedent by allowing Hadi's motion, although PAS has fewer seats than DAP or PKR.

"(Allowing Abdul Hadi's motion) was actually designed as a political scheme to distract Malaysians from the crimes that the prime minister has committed mainly the fact that the prime minister has stolen billions of ringgit from 1MDB, a wholly owned subsidiary of the government of Malaysia.

"[...] We will, on the part of DAP reject the private member's bill brought forward by Marang, but the bigger agenda, the woods we should not lose sight of, is to bring down a kleptocratic administration led by the biggest thief of all in the country Dato' Sri Najib Razak," said Pua, according to the letter of demand. Emphasis belongs to Hafarizam.

In an immediate response, Pua told Malaysiakini that he stood by his words.

"The evidence has been similarly adduced and highlighted in the public misfeasance suit I have filed against Najib," said Pua.

In 2015, Najib had filed a defamation suit against Pua for making similar allegations. The suit is currently ongoing.