Singer withdraws RM1 million suit against blogger

Wan Shades had accused Nor Hamzie of defaming him in a 2012 article that claimed he raped his stepdaughter although he had no such stepdaughter.

KUALA LUMPUR: The lead singer of a local group today withdrew his RM1 million lawsuit against a blogger who allegedly slandered him on social media.

Wan Shades, a member of the vocal group, Shades, whose real name is Mohamad Faizal Mohd Ali, 44, sued Nor Hamzie Md Hambali, 32, on March 31, 2016.

He accused Nor Hamzie of defaming him in an article in his blog dated Feb 20, 2012 that claimed he raped his stepdaughter.

Nor Hamzie’s lawyer Mohamad Lokman Abd Rahman told reporters that Faizal withdrew the civil action with liberty to file a fresh suit.

Lawyer Nik Farhan Nik Mohd Tahir, who represented the singer in applying for the withdrawal before justice Yeoh Wee Siam in chambers, confirmed the matter when approached.

Faizal, in his statement of claim, alleged that the article clearly referred to him.

He claimed his real name and photograph were in the article that was posted in the blog, which was easily accessible to internet users.

The article, alleged the singer, implied that he was the main suspect in his stepdaughter’s rape, yet he never had a stepdaughter and was never called for questioning by police or charged in court for rape. -FMT