Kuala lumpur: Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad expressed his frustration on Thursday over the prolonged nature of his defamation lawsuit against current Premier Anwar Ibrahim. During a courtroom session, Mahathir remarked to the judge that he "will be dead" before the case concludes.

According to Anadolu Agency, the former prime minister was visibly irked during a cross-examination in his RM150 million ($31.5 million) lawsuit against Anwar. The tension arose when lawyer Ranjit Singh interrogated Mahathir about his resignation in 2020 and his party's underwhelming performance in the 2022 elections. Mahathir asserted that the line of questioning was irrelevant to his complaint that Anwar had defamed him.

Mahathir Mohamad, who turned 100 on July 10, holds the record as the longest-serving premier in Malaysia since its independence in 1957. In response to Singh's accusation of being a dictator, Mahathir countered by stating that no dictator has ever resigned from power. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the focus of the cross-examination, emphasizing his advanced age and limited time to engage in prolonged legal discourse. "I don't have time, your honour, because I'm 100 years old. I cannot answer all the questions. It will take 10 years at this rate," he stated, underscoring his belief that "justice delayed is justice denied."

The lawsuit stems from remarks made by Anwar in March 2023 during the People's Justice Party's Special National Congress, in which Anwar alleged that an unnamed individual, who had been in power for 22 years and 22 months, had enriched himself and his close associates, evaded taxes, and transferred funds abroad. Mahathir interpreted these comments as being directed at him.

Historically, Anwar Ibrahim served as deputy prime minister under Mahathir from 1993 to 1998, a period that adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing legal battle between the two prominent political figures.