Blogger Sang Kelembai sued for RM150mil over halal meat claims

 

Raihanah Cold Storage owners and directors Rahman Sheikh Abdullah, 44, and his wife Raihanah Kasim, 42, at a recent court appearance. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A blogger has been sued for a total of RM150 million in defamation damages by a cold storage company and the couple who founded the company. They said the blogger, Zaharin Mohd Yasin, had made false claims about non-halal meat being sold as halal.

The founders of Raihanah Cold Storage Sdn Bhd have filed a RM150 million defamation suit against Facebook account owner Zaharin Mohd Yasin, also known as Sang Kelembai, who had allegedly accused the company of being involved in the import of non-halal meat issue.

Rahman Sheikh Abdullah, 45, and his wife Raihanah Kasim, 43, both directors of Raihanah Cold Storage, and the company filed the suit on Jan 27.

They named named Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin, also known as Zaharin Mohd Yasin, 69, as the sole defendant. Zaharin, also known as blogger Sang Kelembai, had made the claims on Facebook in December.

In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs claimed that Zaharin had also published a photo of Rahman, details of the company’s record at the Companies Commission of Malaysia, including Raihanah’s full name and identity card number.

The couple and the company said Zaharin had insinuated that they distributed or sold non-halal meat, and alleged that the company practiced malicious business tactics by repackaging non-halal meat as halal meat for sale or distribution.

They said they were never involved in importing or smuggling non-halal meat or beef into Malaysia and never repackaged non-halal meat as halal meat. They also denied being involved in corrupt practices with the Customs Department or any relevant authorities while dealing in the distribution or sale of halal meat.

The three plaintiffs each sought general damages of RM50 million, and other relief. - FMT