Puad, Muhyiddin settle defamation suit
Mohd Puad Zarkashi and Muhyiddin Yassin have amicably settled the former prime minister’s defamation suit against the Umno supreme council member.
Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz recorded the settlement in open court this morning, with other terms of the settlement to remain confidential.
UPDATED 11.35AM | Included the agreed statement read out by Puad in court.
Mohd Puad Zarkashi and Muhyiddin Yassin have amicably settled the former prime minister’s defamation suit against the Umno supreme council member.
Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz recorded the settlement in open court this morning, with other terms of the settlement to remain confidential.
Puad (above, left) was seen reading out an agreed statement as Muhyiddin looked on. Both veteran politicians then shook hands as the judge presided over the proceedings.
Muhyiddin’s counsel Rosli Dahlan informed the civil court that the agreed statement would be later published on Puad’s social media accounts.
On March 1, 2021, then prime minister Muhyiddin filed the defamation suit against Puad over a Facebook post alleging double standards in Covid-19 procedures in Malaysia.
The Pagoh MP also obtained an ex-parte injunction against the defendant on that same day. A few days later, Puad took down the post.
During open-court proceedings today, Puad read out the agreed statement. Puad’s lawyer Mohd Shahril Madisa confirmed with Hayatul the terms of the settlement.
The statement is as follows:
On Feb 9, 2021, I published a statement on my Facebook, regarding the quarantine period under the Order for Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2021, which is regarded as not true and defamatory by Muhyiddin.
On March 1, 2021, Muhyiddin had filed the suit and obtained an ex-parte injunction against me. I then deleted the statement from all my social media.
The issue arose when the country was facing the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, the government has succeeded in containing and the country has gotten out from the Covid-19 pandemic.
I am thankful to Muhyiddin for not prolonging this issue and any difficulties are very much regretted.
