KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has ordered for the lawsuit filed by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad against a Muslim rights group activist who accused him of organising a gay festival to proceed for a full trial.
Lawyer Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, representing Wan Asshima Kamaruddin, said the court had dismissed Khalid’s bid to strike out her statement of defence.
“The court directed our case to proceed with the trial and instructed us to file documents for the trial.
“Her defence of fair comment, qualified privilege and justification is still available,” he said, adding that High Court judge Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamed had also ordered Khalid to pay RM3,000 in costs.
He did not rule out the possibility of a settlement between Khalid and Asshima.
“The lawyers will work out among ourselves,” he said.
Lawyer Muhammad Rafiqree Hamka, representing Khalid, said he would seek the minister’s instruction on whether to appeal.
“In dismissing our striking-out, the court is of the view that we should go for a full trial to determine the case.”
Khalid sued Asshima last September for claiming he had organised a gay festival in the city centre.
“In her Facebook statement on Aug 18, she said I had violated the rights of Muslims when I called and approved the gay festival. It also implied that I am a person who acknowledges LGBT rights in Malaysia.
“Her statement was done in bad faith with the intention to cause the public, especially the Muslim community, to hate me,” Khalid said in his lawsuit.
He is seeking an apology from Asshima as well as damages.
Asshima, in a Facebook video, alleged that Khalid approved the gay festival in August, and that the LGBT community would “gather to celebrate the victory” as the festival had been given the green light.
“YB (Khalid) may be proud with the LGBT group but to me and Gerakan Muslimah Islam Malaysia, we will continue our fight against them,” she said.
However, she has since deleted the video. - FMT
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