Teresa files defamation suit against Akmal
DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok has filed a defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over his remarks against her in relation to the halal certification issue.
The Seputeh MP’s lawyers, SN Nair and Partners, served the writ of summons and statement of claim through Akmal’s legal firm Messrs Fahri, Azzat & Co.
On Sept 11, Malaysiakini reported that...
DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok has filed a defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over his remarks against her in relation to the halal certification issue.
The Seputeh MP’s lawyers, SN Nair and Partners, served the writ of summons and statement of claim through Akmal’s legal firm Messrs Fahri, Azzat & Co.
On Sept 11, Malaysiakini reported that Kok had sent a letter of demand to the Umno Youth chief and sought RM25 million in damages in addition to footing the legal costs and expenses incurred.
However, Akmal said he was willing to face the DAP leader in court, stating that he would not surrender to pressure.
In her suit, Kok said the Umno Youth chief’s remarks were “slanderous and libellous” as well as “untrue, baseless, malicious and driven by a racist tone”.
Via the civil action, Kok is seeking multiple reliefs, among them unspecified general, compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages.
She seeks an injunction to prevent Akmal from repeating the alleged defamatory words.
Kok also seeks five percent annual interest on any award given by the civil court and any other relief it deems fit.
‘Motivated by ill intent, malice’
In the writ of summons filed at the Malacca High Court on Oct 14, Kok claimed that Akmal made the allegedly defamatory and untrue statement via a video on social media platforms TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram on Sept 7.
The plaintiff claimed that the statement, among others, referred to her as “nyonya tua”, implied that she was racist, disrespectful of Islam, did not possess any knowledge of the Halal certification issue, was insensitive, and harmed the peace and harmony of the country.
Kok claimed that the statement, which also allegedly contained a remark that it was better for her to stay silent and a call for the government to stick a non-Halal logo on her forehead, jeopardised her good reputation in Malaysia as a lawmaker and a big-hearted and integrity-driven politician who always served the nation’s interest.
She claimed to have suffered severe mental distress and embarrassment as a result of Akmal’s statement.
She contended that the defendant’s actions were allegedly motivated by deceit, ill intent, malice, and hatred, as well as a desire for cheap publicity and sensationalism.
Kok said that in spite of her lawyers having issued a letter of demand on Sept 11 seeking Akmal’s apology and retraction of the statement, the plaintiff said that the defendant continued to defame her.
