Kuala lumpur: Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was awarded RM250,000 in damages after the High Court ruled in his favour on part of his defamation claim against a Facebook account owner over posts linking him to GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Judicial Commissioner Rihaida Rafie allowed part of the suit filed by Mohd Asri, 55, against Mohd Nawawi Abdul Razak, 39. In her judgment, Rihaida stated that the court found only the first of the four statements published by the defendant to be defamatory. The plaintiff failed to prove that the remaining three statements fulfilled the legal elements of defamation.
The court expressed satisfaction that the first defamatory statement met the criteria for defamation. Upon reaching this conclusion, the court evaluated the defense raised by the defendant. After thorough consideration, it found that the defendant failed to establish the defense pleaded.
The court ordered Mohd Nawawi to pay RM250,000 in global damages, with interest at five percent per annum from the date of judgment until full settlement. Additionally, RM50,000 in costs were ordered to be paid to Mohd Asri. The court also mandated the defendant to publish an apology on his Facebook account within seven days, remove the defamatory posts, and refrain from publishing further defamatory statements through the account, either personally or via employees.
The proceedings were attended by lawyers Faizal Rahman and Fatima Zulaikha Ahmad Bashri, representing Mohd Asri, while Mohd Nawawi was represented by Mohd Tajudin Abd Razak. Mohd Asri, also a lecturer, initiated the suit on Oct 10, 2024, alleging that the defendant published four defamatory statements on the Facebook account 'Mohd Nawawi Abd Razak' on Sept 20, 2024, accessible to the public.
He claimed the posts implied that he was a leader or supporter of the GISBH movement, had close ties with the group, and condoned superstitious practices in exchange for benefits from GISBH. In his defense filed on Nov 29, 2024, Mohd Nawawi denied these allegations, arguing that the defamation claim was exaggerated, excessive, and fabricated to gain the court's sympathy.