Kuala lumpur: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad testified in the High Court today, asserting that his RM5 million defamation lawsuit against Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was not intended to damage the former prime minister's political career.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dzulkefly made this statement during cross-examination by Najib's counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, on the second day of the trial. The lawsuit revolves around a Facebook post from August 2020, which accused Dzulkefly of nepotism in the appointment of his daughter, Nurul Iman, to the board of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

During the proceedings, Dzulkefly confirmed that he had also initiated legal action against Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, but noted that the issue with Asyraf Wajdi had been resolved. Dzulkefly did not pursue legal action against newspapers for similar reports.

Muhammad Shafee suggested that the suit was a strategic move to prevent Najib from re-entering the political scene, a claim Dzulkefly denied. In response to questioning by his own counsel, Stanley Sebastian Sinnappen, Dzulkefly dismissed any notion that he intended to politically sabotage Najib, stating that such accusations were unfounded.

Dzulkefly explained his decision to sue Najib was based on the direct reference to him and his daughter in the Facebook post. He argued that the post was an attack on his reputation, amounting to defamation, and intended to damage his public image.

Under questioning from Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, another of Najib's lawyers, Dzulkefly acknowledged that political discourse often involves public criticism. However, he emphasized that such discourse should remain respectful and not cross into defamation.

Muhammad Farhan contended that Najib's post on August 24, 2020, was a reflection of common criticisms within political circles regarding political appointments and nepotism. Dzulkefly responded by pointing out the timing of the post, noting that it came 19 months after his daughter's appointment.

The court also heard testimony from Nurul Aiman, with the trial set to continue before Judge Mahazan Mat Taib. Filed in January 2022, Dzulkefly's lawsuit claims that Najib's Facebook post was defamatory and aimed at humiliating him for political purposes.

Najib, in his defense filed on March 29, 2022, argued that his post was not specifically targeting Dzulkefly but was instead a critique of the Pakatan Harapan coalition.