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PKR’s Nurul Izzah wins S$337,000 in defamation suit against former top cop & Umno minister

KUALA LUMPUR — Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar on Wednesday (April 18) won a defamation suit against a retired top cop and a minister from the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar on Wednesday (April 18) won a defamation suit against a retired top cop and a minister from the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar on Wednesday (April 18) won a defamation suit against a retired top cop and a minister from the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

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KUALA LUMPUR — Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar on Wednesday (April 18) won a defamation suit against a retired top cop and a minister from the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

The High Court also awarded her a total of RM1 million (S$337,068.56) in damages, ordering former national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar to pay RM400,000 while caretaker Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob must pay RM600,000.

Judicial Commissioner Faizah Jamaludin said the court found that both Mr Khalid and Mr Ismail had defamed Ms Nurul Izzah at two separate functions in 2015 concerning the incumbent Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament’s meeting with Filipina Jacel Kiram who was a member of a group that had planned to go to war against Malaysia.

Ms Jacel is the daughter of the late self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III.

“The statements in its natural and ordinary meaning had defamed the plaintiff,” Ms Faizah said in her ruling.

She said the statements conveyed to the ordinary reasonable man that in meeting Ms Jacel, Ms Nurul Izzah was a terrorist and had committed treason by declaring war against the Malaysian King.

“In my opinion, the statements made had caused adverse opinions against the plaintiff, and the words used would lower the opinion of her among reasonable members of society. It had also exposed the plaintiff to hatred, ridicule, and contempt of the ordinary Malaysian."

Ms Faizah explained both statements had expressed evidence of malice towards the plaintiff, elaborating that this was shown in their failure to clarify the facts or seek an explanation from Ms Nurul Izzah over the visit.

She then pointed out the defendants were not ordinary men on the street when they made the statements.

“They were the head of the country’s police force, and a minister of Cabinet. It would not be unreasonable for the ordinary man hearing or reading the statements to assume they speak of authority, truth and knowledge,” she said.

Ms Faizah also granted Ms Nurul Izzah an injunction order against any future publications concerning the statements in question.

“An injunction is granted to the plaintiff in restraining further publications and broadcasting of these statements or any similar of the defamatory matters,” she said.

Nurul Izzah’s lead counsel was Mr Sivarasah Rasiah.

Mr Khalid and Mr Ismail were absent from Wednesday’s court proceedings but were represented by senior federal counsel Normastura Ayub and Zureen Elina Mohd Dom

Outside court, Ms Nurul Izzah said she was thankful after being vindicated, adding that a sum from the damages would be channeled to the families of servicemen killed in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

“I would to set aside a substantial amount pending the decision at the appeal court level, for the families of the fallen heroes in Lahad Datu.

She added that the decision should act as a reminder to other leaders and people in power.

“It is fine to disagree on certain policies and positions, but to slander and utilise sordid allegations against one another is unbecoming,” she said. MALAY MAIL ONLINE

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