KUALA LUMPUR: A defamation suit filed by former minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa against Harakah in connection with cosmetics entrepreneur Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman, or better known as Nur Sajat, who wore female prayer garb while performing the umrah, is close to an out-of-court settlement.
Mujahid’s lawyer, Noorazmir Zakaria, said parties were in the final stages of negotiation and needed a bit more time.
“The trial judge has given us another extension until Monday. Hopefully, everything will come out well,” he said after a virtual proceeding before sessions judge Zulqarnain Hassan today.
On Aug 30, the judge had given both parties until today to explore the possibility of settling the suit.
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.
He named Harakah reporter Aziz Muda, editor-in-chief Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob, Galeri Media Serbanika Sdn Bhd, operator of the online portal harakahdaily.net, and 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 MP for Parit Buntar, is seeking 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
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