The Kuala Lumpur High Court has given blogger Papagomo 24 hours to take down a Facebook posting which allegedly linked Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar to a sexual claim.
Judicial commissioner Leong Wai Hong today allowed the ex-parte injunction order sought by the former chief syariah judge, pending disposal of the plaintiff’s defamation suit against the blogger whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris.
Na’im’s counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader confirmed with the media that the civil court allowed his client’s restraining order bid to maintain the status quo while the civil action is ongoing.
According to a copy of the ex-parte injunction bid, the civil court directed Azri (above) to delete the post dated Sept 18, within 24 hours of the ruling.
On Oct 19, Na’im filed a writ of summons against Azri over the Facebook post.
The plaintiff claimed that the defendant’s posting also included a six-minute 41-second TikTok clip which touched on DAP lawmaker Howard Lee quoting verses from the Quran.
Na’im claimed that Azri in the Facebook posting that enclosed the TikTok video had linked the minister to the sexual allegation.
In rubbishing the allegation as untrue, the plaintiff contended that the post implied among others that he rode on the coattails of religion while being saddled with the sexual claim.
Na’im also claimed that the post implied he colluded with DAP for his personal interest while sidelining the interests of the Muslim community.
Minister seeks apology, damages
Through the lawsuit, the minister seeks multiple reliefs, including court orders for the blogger to make an unequivocal public apology, permanently delete the online posting, and never repeat the allegedly defamatory statement.
Na’im also seeks unspecified general, exemplary, aggravated, and punitive damages, 5 percent annual interest on the awarded sum, costs, and any further relief deemed fit by the court.
Malaysiakini is attempting to reach out to Azri’s legal team over the matter.
On Jan 12 last year, it was reported that the police launched an investigation over claims that a then senior judge had purportedly sexually harassed a married woman in 2020.
The senior judge later lodged a counter police report against his accuser, claiming he was falsely accused.
Na’im also previously sued Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam over online postings regarding the allegation.
Lokman had since publicly apologised before the civil court to settle the defamation suit. - Mkini
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