Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is seeking a total of RM6.5 million in damages from author Khalid Jafri over libellous allegations contained in his book 50 Dalil Mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM (50 reasons why Anwar cannot become PM).

Counsel Sulaiman Abdullah told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that due to the seriousness of the case, Anwar is seeking a total of RM500,000 for each of the eight libellous allegations - totalling RM4 million - as well as RM500,000 for political conspiracy that led to his political downfall.

Stating that Anwar is entitled to be "adequately compensated for the unjust and inexcusable wrong done to him", Sulaiman said another RM2 million is being sought from Khalid as aggravated and exemplary damages.

"The title of the said book speaks for itself. A powerful message needs to be sent to the defendants that defaming someone does not pay," Sulaiman said in his opening speech at the hearing, which is scheduled to run until Thursday.

Sulaiman later called Anwar to the witness stand where he testified at length about how the allegations - of homosexuality, adultery, corruption, and being a traitor to Malaysia and agent of the United States - had damaged his reputation as a Muslim leader locally and internationally.

Defence struck out

The hearing was conducted before Justice Hishamuddin Yunus who on Jan 20, had ruled in favour of Anwar after he struck off Khalid's defence. This was because the writer's then lawyer Shamsul Bahrain was absent from the hearing without lawful excuse, when this had been fixed based on his free dates.

He said the ruling was also due to Khalid's (left) failure to serve further and better particulars within the stipulated time to Anwar as directed.

This, the judge said, showed "the inability on the part of the defendants to substantiate their claim of justification and fair comment".

Anwar was still deputy prime minister and finance minister when he filed the suit in 1998 against Khalid - whose full name is Khalid Jafri Bakar Shah - and his wife Rozihan Abdul Ghani in her capacity as Media Pulau Langkawi publisher, for libel over the contents of the book.

He later obtained an injunction barring anyone from distributing or selling the book which later became a subject of police investigations against him.

Shortly after, then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad sacked Anwar for alleged sexual misdemeanor. The latter maintained that the accusations were part of a political conspiracy against him.

'Vicious allegations'

In his speech, Sulaiman told the court that Khalid not only admitted to writing and publishing the book, but also distributing it at the Umno general assembly in June 1998 when Anwar was deputy premier, finance minister and deputy president of the party.

"The vicious and iniquitous allegations contained in the book, imputing unfitness of office, corruption, misconduct in office, disloyalty, moral misconduct, disreputable behaviour, imputing criminal offence, are irrefutably defamatory of the plaintiff (Anwar)," he said.

"...as a result of the libel, he (Anwar) had suffered not only loss of his office and position, but has been seriously injured in his character and reputation (both personal and as a politician of national and international stature), suffered distress, injury to feelings and embarrassment."

He also said the defendants had boldly and arrogantly pleaded justification and boasted that they had the evidence and witnesses available.

"Yet no such evidence was produced during discovery. Instead, they applied to completely amend their defence largely dropping the defence of justifications. The nature of their defence was totally altered."

The evidence also showed that Khalid and his wife intended to profit from the defamation as the book was published for sale at RM20 a copy, while the A4 version was priced at RM10 a copy.

"The evidence shows that the defendants were reckless in publishing the book and indifferent to the truth or otherwise of the contents."

Sulaiman appeared with Faiz Abdullah, Leela Jesuthasan and Abdul Rahman Adnan while the defendants were represented by V Raja Singham.

Khalid was not in court as he has been hospitalised for complications arising from chronic diabetes - recent press reports said his leg had been amputated.

Raja Singham declined to comment on Khalid's condition, but said his client has not recovered from the surgery. The writer was earlier sentenced to a year's jail for publishing false information.

Sulaiman will sum up tomorrow.