PM obtains fresh restraining order against Puad

 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has obtained a fresh court order to restrain Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi from uploading a Facebook post.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today issued the ad-interim (temporary period of time) injunction order, which was not objected to by Puad’s legal team.

The order is in relation to Muhyiddin’s defamation suit against Puad over the latter's Facebook post.

On March 1, judge Mohd Firuz Jaffril issued a similar injunction order against Puad, which would have only lasted 21 days from the date of issuance.

Today’s restraining order would, in essence, be in effect until the court hears and disposes of two separate legal applications linked to the main defamation suit.

One is Muhyiddin’s application for an inter-partes injunction order against Puad, pending disposal of the main defamation action.

The second is Puad’s application to set aside the restraining order.

The court fixed May 24 to hear both applications.

Following the March 1 court order, Puad has since removed the FB posts, which are the subject matter of the ongoing defamation proceedings.

An inter-partes legal matter is when both plaintiff and defendant’s legal teams are present before a court to submit.

When met by the media after proceedings, Muhyiddin’s counsel Rosli Dahlan confirmed that the court issued the injunction order.

“The ex parte injunction (March 1 order) has been converted into an ad-interim injunction (today’s order) until May 24, so he (Puad) must not make any statement or remark until that date,” Rosli said.

An ex parte legal matter is when only one party is present to submit before the court.

Meanwhile, lawyer G Rajasingam confirmed that the court order was issued following no objections being raised by his client, Puad.

“We did not raise an objection to the ad-interim application (by Muhyiddin’s legal team), so the order was issued and take effect until that date (May 24),” Rajasingam said, as Puad looked on beside him.

Muhyiddin, who is suing in his personal capacity, was not present at court today.

It was previously reported that Muhyiddin had issued a letter of demand against Puad in relation to the latter’s Facebook post alleging double standards in Covid-19 procedures. The Facebook post was uploaded on Feb 9.

According to a copy of the main defamation suit, Muhyiddin is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages from Puad.

The plaintiff is seeking an injunction to restrain Puad from further publishing or sharing the post.

Muhyiddin is also seeking a court order for Puad to publish an unequivocal public apology on the latter’s official Facebook page, as well as for the defendant to ensure the apology is carried by news portals and social media that had published the impugned post.

The prime minister is also seeking costs and any further relief deemed fit by the court. - Mkini