Former minister in the prime minister’s department P Waythamoorthy and former Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam have settled a defamation suit filed in 2019.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Akhtar Tahir this morning recorded the settlement reached between the plaintiff and defendant over the latter’s public statement linked to the 2018 death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
When contacted, Waythamoorthy’s counsel Annou Xavier confirmed that via online in-chambers proceedings, the parties settled the matter on terms that are to remain confidential.
According to the judiciary's online cause list, the civil court has recorded the consent order involving the settlement.
Malaysiakini is attempting to reach out to Lokman’s legal team over the matter.
In August 2019, it was reported that Waythamoorthy, then the minister in charge of national unity and social well-being, filed the civil action against Lokman.
The lawsuit was over Lokman’s statement made during a public gathering on Jan 4, earlier that year, over the allegation that Waythamoorthy tried to persuade then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his cabinet, to amend the report on the death of Adib, who lost his life during the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riot.
In his statement of claim, Waythamoorthy alleged that Lokman had spoken at a protest attended by about 100 participants, and the speech was uploaded on the defendant’s Facebook page.
The plaintiff claimed the defamatory speech was uploaded in two videos via Youtube, KiniTV and Sinar TV, as well as produced in articles in several news portals, including Malaysiakini and Minda Rakyat.
Waythamoorthy rubbished the claim in the alleged defamatory statement, further alleging it tarnished his reputation as then minister and senator.
However, in his statement of defence filed on July 3, 2019, Lokman denied the speech at the assembly was defamatory to the minister, and alleged the speech was a fair comment and was based on facts in the interest of the people. - Mkini
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