Kuala lumpur: The High Court today awarded RM550,000 in damages to businessman Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak after allowing his defamation suit against activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, known as Chegu Bard, and influencer Nurpais Ismail. Judicial Commissioner Arziah Mohamed Apandi awarded RM300,000 in general damages, RM150,000 in aggravated damages, and RM100,000 in exemplary damages. The court also ordered both defendants to pay RM40,000 in costs to the plaintiff.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Arziah concluded that the statements made were defamatory and significantly damaging to the plaintiff. The court found that the narrative presented by Badrul Hisham depicted Farhash as someone who leveraged political connections for personal success, manipulated political processes, and embodied corruption and ego in politics. The statements were intended to depict him as dishonest and unethical, undermining his public trust positions and harming his personal, professional, and business reputation.
Arziah highlighted that the statements accused Farhash of corruption, cronyism, and abuse of power, which are grave allegations against any public figure. The defamatory content was clearly directed at the plaintiff, as his name was explicitly mentioned, along with details of his role as the Prime Minister's political secretary and his former position as PKR Perak state leader.
The court noted that Badrul Hisham made the defamatory remarks during a recorded interview, which was then published by Nurpais Ismail on his YouTube platform. Nurpais controlled the publication, asking questions that encouraged defamatory responses and sensationalizing the content to maximize viewership for commercial gain.
Arziah emphasized that despite receiving a demand letter from Farhash on May 12, 2025, neither defendant took action to remove the video or mitigate its effects. The continued publication after notice showed a deliberate choice to persist in the defamation. The statements have caused significant damage to Farhash's reputation, affecting his personal, political, professional, and commercial life.
During the proceedings, counsel Nurin Husnina Hussein represented Farhash. The lawsuit was filed on May 26, 2025, but neither defendant attended court or submitted a defense statement. Farhash was the sole witness to provide evidence at the trial on January 12.
The defamatory statements made in the interview suggested that Farhash used his influence to control and manipulate large companies, adding to the severity of the accusations.