Mujahid settles defamation suit against Harakah without contest

 

Former minister in charge of religious affairs Mujahid Yusof Rawa filed the suit on Aug 12, 2020 over an article criticising his comments on entrepreneur Nur Sajat.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa has settled his defamation suit without having to go through a trial against PAS organ, Harakah.

The suit was in connection with cosmetics entrepreneur Nur Sajat, who wore female prayer garb while performing the umrah.

Mujahid’s lawyer, Noorazmir Zakaria, said both parties recorded a consent judgment before sessions court judge Zulqarnain Hassan today in a virtual hearing.

“The terms and conditions of the settlement will remain confidential as agreed,” Noorazmir told FMT.

However, he said, Harakah reporter Aziz Muda will publish a written apology in Harakah within seven days.

Counsel Yusfarizal Yusoff, who appeared for Aziz, Harakah editor-in-chief Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob, and Galeri Media Serbanika, the operator of the online portal harakahdaily.net, also confirmed the settlement.

On Aug 30, Zulqarnain gave parties more time to explore the possibility of settling the suit instead of going for trial.

The trial had been scheduled to begin online with Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh slated to give evidence as a witness for Mujahid.

Mujahid, the former minister in charge of religious affairs, had filed the suit on Aug 12, 2020 after he was criticised for his comments on Nur Sajat donning female garments while performing the umrah.

Apart from Aziz, Wan Nordin, and Galeri Media Serbanika, Mujahid had also included printer Percetakan Turbo (M) Sdn Bhd as defendants.

He alleged that defamatory words against him were published in an article titled “Sajat: Mujahid dan K’jaan PH patut dipersalahkan” and another titled “Keterlanjuran Sajat kesilapan Mujahid dan kerajaan PH” in Harakah between Feb 10 and 13 last year.

Mujahid, who is the Parit Buntar MP, sought a public apology, a retraction of the articles and damages.

The defendants said Mujahid should not be offended by public criticisms hurled at him, especially by media practitioners, in connection with the issue.

They said they did not have any malicious intent against the former minister in the publication of the articles as they were based on fair comment.

The defendants asserted that they were under political, moral and social obligations to disseminate the different views of the people pertaining to the issue as it also involved the concepts of Rahmatan Lil Alamin (Mercy to all creations) and Amar Makruf Nahi Mungkar (Enjoining good and preventing evil), said the defendants, represented by lawyer Yusfarizal Yussoff. - FMT