Teacher files RM1m suit against Mais, three others

SHAH ALAM, Jan 16 — A schoolteacher in Sepang today filed a RM1 million suit against the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) and three others for disseminating two reports which stated that she was a follower of deviant teachings in Sepang two years ago. 

Shahriah Omar, 47, who filed the suit at the High Court Registrar Office here, through lawyer Fadiah Nadwa, named Sepang assistant religious officer Ariff Alfian Norazman as the first defendant, Sepang Islamic Religious Office senior registrar Abd. Halim Mt Esa (second defendant), Selangor Islamic Religious Department director Datuk Marzuki Hussin (third defendant), and Mais (fourth defendant). 

The plaintiff claimed two reports, one dated May 16, 2011 and another dated 10 days later were sent to several parties, including the plaintiff’s school. 

Shahriah claimed that the two documents were also obtained by her ex-husband as supporting material in his custody application for their children. 

The plaintiff is seeking general damages of RM1 million, aggravated and punitive damages, as well as interest accrued at the rate of five per cent per annum from the date of the entry of the judgment until full settlement of the damages. 

She also demanded a written apology from the defendants and an injunction to prevent the defendants from making defamatory statements against her either orally, in writing or through print media and the Internet. — Bernama