Lokman took down Covid posts linked to KJ’s defamation suit: Lawyer

Lokman Noor Adam has complied with a court order to take down a few online postings linked Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccination programmes.

The Umno supreme council member is complying with a Feb 3 Kuala Lumpur High Court order for injunction sought by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Health Minister is suing fellow Umno member Lokman over the postings, which the former contended undermined efforts by the government to combat the pandemic in Malaysia.

When contacted today, counsel Logen Eskander confirmed that his client Lokman has complied with the court order to take down the impugned postings.

The lawyer said that the injunction order is extended until May 10, which is set for the court to hear Lokman’s bid to set aside the restraining order, pending disposal of the main defamation suit.

“The ad-interim injunction is extended until hearing of the inter-partes (legal teams for both Khairy and Lokman would be present) injunction application is set on May 10, 2022,” Logen said.

The lawyer was speaking about the outcome of today’s case management of the legal action before High Court judicial commissioner Leong Wai Hong.

Logen said that lawyer Norfazilah Jaafar appeared for Lokman today, while counsel Abdul Rashid Ismail represented Khairy.

Logen added that the court also allowed among others for Lokman to file his statement of defence by March 3.

On Feb 3, Malaysiakini reported that Khairy was not only suing Lokman but also Islamic preacher Mohd Rasyiq Mohd Alwi (who is popularly known as Ustaz Abu Syafiq) over postings linked to Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccination drive.

According to the suit’s statement of claim, Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) chairperson Khairy is suing the two men over a series of online uploads between Oct 20, 2021, and Jan 10. 2022.

The cause papers were referring to four videos and a photo allegedly uploaded to Lokman’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as four postings, three videos and a photo purportedly uploaded to Rasyiq’s Instagram page.

Rembau MP Khairy claimed that the two defendants committed defamation through the online postings which contained several allegations linked to the government’s Covid-19 vaccination efforts in Malaysia.

Among these allegations are that the plaintiff purportedly acted recklessly and/or irresponsibly in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines for the vaccination programmes in Malaysia, as well as claims linked to his Covid-19 vaccination status.

Khairy claimed that the online postings by Lokman and Rasyiq are contrary to the public interest as they purportedly undermined the government’s efforts to combat Covid-19 in the country.

Seeking damages

The plaintiff contended that he “has acted to take into account the safety and/or well-being of the Malaysian public with regard to the implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination programmes in Malaysia”.

Khairy is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages, as well as several court orders.

Among these orders are for the two defendants to take down the alleged defamatory postings; to publish a retraction and public apology to be carried in video form for 30 days on the plaintiff’s FB page and the defendants’ YouTube pages, as well as in news portals and social media accounts identified by the plaintiff. - Mkini