Blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris is ready to prove in court the allegation that Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil gave a political talk in a Rawang mosque six months ago.
Popularly known as Papagomo, the online personality raised justification in his statement of defence against the Lembah Pantai MP’s defamation suit.
The defendant claimed he has access to multiple online media reports and photos on social media allegedly showing the plaintiff’s ceramah at Masjid Nurul Yaqin, Kampung Melayu Seri Kundang, Rawang, Selangor, on July 31 last year.
Wan Azri (above, left) claimed that several quarters lodged complaints and there was an investigation over Fahmi’s alleged political speech in a place of worship.
“This shows that there is truth and/or part of it is fact that is substantially true in the normal and usual meaning in relation to the matter.
“The defendant states that the defendant has a responsibility as a citizen to air any issue on abuse of power and air the people’s concerns that involve public interest directly or indirectly.
“The defendant believes that the fact mentioned above is true and has access as well as valid justification,” Wan Azri said in the defence against the suit over a few online postings and videos dated Aug 8 last year.
The defendant also raised the issue of whether the plaintiff has the locus standi (legal standing) to file the defamation suit in a personal capacity.
Wan Azri contended this is because the alleged impugned words being complained of are fully and or partly related to Fahmi’s act in carrying out his official duty as a minister.
“Therefore, this action on a whole and/or partly is not an action that can be brought by the plaintiff in his personal capacity,” the defendant claimed.
When contacted recently, Wan Azri’s counsel Logen Eskander confirmed the filing of the defence at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Dec 8 last year.
Lawyer Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi is acting for Fahmi.
Fahmi sues three people
On Sept 5 last year, the PKR lawmaker filed defamation suits over the mosque political talk claim not only against Wan Azri but also against independent speaker Ahmad Dusuki Abd Rani and the owner of the Facebook account “N13 Kuang”, Mohd Fauzan Madzlan.
Bernama reported Fahmi’s statement of claim as alleging that the three defendants had published defamatory words by accusing him of abusing a place of worship to campaign for an election, and acted contrary to the Selangor ruler’s orders.
Fahmi alleged that the defamatory words were posted on Wan Azri's TikTok and Facebook on Aug 1, while Fauzan's Facebook as well as Dusuki's Facebook and Instagram accounts posted the statements on July 31.
Fahmi contended that the statements were baseless and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council confirmed that he did not give any political speech.
He claimed the statements were aimed at defaming his good name to gain cheap publicity or create a sensation in the national political arena, as well as to tarnish his reputation as an MP and minister.
Fahmi contended that letters of demand had been sent to the three individuals for them to withdraw the defamatory statements, pay damages, and publish an apology, but none had done as requested.
He seeks general, aggravated, or exemplary damages and an injunction to prevent the defendants from repeating or causing the re-publication of the statements.
He also wants the three defendants to withdraw the statement from their social media accounts and issue an apology through all mass media and online media, where he must agree with the content of the apology. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.