Ex-IGP must pay Yeoh damages over evangelism claims after apex court bins appeal bid

 

Former inspector-general of police (IGP) Musa Hassan cannot appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in the defamation case filed by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh against him over evangelism claims.

A panel of three Federal Court judges, led by Rhodzariah Bujang, dismissed Musa’s leave application this morning after finding the basis of the application failed to meet the threshold required.

The judges also unanimously held that the case is fact-sensitive and of no public importance. They also ordered Musa to pay Yeoh RM50,000 in costs.

Also presiding today were judges Che Ruzima Ghazali and Azmi Ariffin.

Following this dismissal, Musa must now pay Yeoh RM250,000 in court-ordered damages.

Defamation case

Yeoh filed the defamation suit against Musa on July 3, 2020, following the latter’s speech at a forum titled “Wacana Isu Semasa Perjanjian Damai Hat Yati 1989: PKM Menyerah Diri?” (The Hat Yai Peace Accords: Did the Communist Party of Malaya surrender?) organised by UITM’s Institute of Malay Rulers.

In his speech, the former IGP allegedly suggested that DAP had published a book on the purported role of Malays behind the May 13 riots, among other things.

Yeoh, in her claims, alleged that Musa’s speech contained defamatory statements that were wholly untrue, disparaging, vexatious, spurious, fallacious, and without basis.

Her claim was dismissed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Dec 23, 2024, after judicial commissioner Arziah Apandi held that Musa, being a former IGP, had a moral and social duty to speak on matters affecting national security.

The court, at that time, found there were no malicious elements proven in Yeoh’s claims and that Musa had reasonable grounds to have made such a statement, after the minister’s admission and writings in her book “Becoming Hannah”.

Yeoh was ordered to pay RM40,000 costs to Musa. She then appealed against the High Court’s decision. The Court of Appeal allowed it and overturned the lower court’s decision on Jan 13 this year.

The Court of Appeal held that Musa, being the top-most senior police officer, did not have the right to defame anyone, especially a politician and a minister.

The panel, led by Federal Court judge Azimah Omar at that time, also ordered Musa to pay Yeoh RM250,000 in damages, which led to Musa’s case before the Federal Court today.

Five-year legal battle ends

Yeoh, speaking to reporters after today’s proceedings, thanked the courts and her lawyers for their hard work in the last five years.

“I faced a lot of slander because this statement was made by the former IGP, and I still remember the accusations on TikTok that were made about my religion, my race, and this slander has caused many police reports lodged against me.

“So I thank the Federal Court and the Court of Appeal for giving me justice.

“The issue of race and religion cannot be played, and I hope this would be a lesson to others who like to ‘play up’ such issues. It has to be stopped,” she said. - Mkini