Alor Setar:The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment on Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's appeal against an Alor Setar High Court decision. The High Court had ordered Saifuddin to pay RM600,000 in damages to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for defamation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the defamation case revolves around statements related to rare earth elements and misappropriated funds allocated under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS). A three-member bench led by Judge Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli deferred the decision after hearing submissions from Saifuddin's counsel Razlan Hadri Zulkifli and counsel Yusfarizal Yussoff, representing Muhammad Sanusi. The court has set October 16 for case management to determine a date for delivering the judgment.

On August 24, 2025, the Alor Setar High Court ruled in favor of Muhammad Sanusi, awarding him RM600,000 in damages, which included general, aggravated, and exemplary damages, as well as RM70,000 in costs. Razlan Hadri argued that if any of the statements did not carry the actionable meaning imposed by the High Court, Muhammad Sanusi's claim should be dismissed. He suggested that any surviving narrower defamatory meaning should be assessed under justification and fair comment.

Yusfarizal, however, argued that the High Court’s decision was consistent with Muhammad Sanusi's submissions, emphasizing that political success should not influence reputational harm in defamation cases. He maintained that the appeal should be dismissed, affirming the High Court's decision and its awards fully.

The lawsuit, filed by Muhammad Sanusi on August 3, 2023, alleges that Saifuddin made defamatory statements during a press conference in Penang and an election rally in Guar Chempedak, claiming misuse of MARRIS funds and theft of rare earth elements.