Perlis Mufti Files Rm10mil Defamation Suit Against Gisbh

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Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin claimed the alleged defamatory posts humiliated him and tarnished his dignity and image as a mufti, academic and preacher.
KUALA LUMPUR: Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin has filed a RM10 million lawsuit against Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) for alleged defamation.
The mufti, popularly known as Dr Maza, filed the suit at the Shah Alam High Court on Oct 1 through legal firm Tetuan Faizal Rahman & Co, naming GISBH and its deputy director of administration, Mokhtar Tajuddin, as the first and second defendants.
In the statement of claim, Asri alleged that GISBH published defamatory statements against him through a post on its official Facebook page, accompanied by a poster.
He also said a press conference held on Aug 29 implied that he had defamed GISBH, disseminated false statements and created a negative perception of the company.
Asri said GISBH had issued him a notice of demand on Aug 24, demanding him to issue an apology within seven days to clear GISBH’s name, which he contended also carried defamatory implications.
He claimed the notice suggested that he had accused GISBH without proper investigation and made baseless claims.
Asri contended that the posts were published with the intent to damage his reputation and create a negative public perception of him.
He said the defamatory posts humiliated him and tarnished his dignity and image as a mufti, academic and preacher.
He is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages amounting to RM10 million, along with general damages, costs, interest and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Asri also wants the defendants to draft an apology within 14 days of the court’s judgment – if it rules in his favour – and publish it in newspapers, including Utusan Malaysia, Sinar Harian, Berita Harian and New Straits Times, and on their Facebook page.
He also wants the defendants to delete all defamatory statements from their websites and social media platforms, and cease publishing any further defamatory statements directly or indirectly.
On Oct 10, Asri filed a separate defamation lawsuit against a Facebook account owner for allegedly publishing defamatory statements linking him to GISBH. - FMT

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