KUALA LUMPUR: Group of 25 Eminent Malays (G25) spokesman Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin is suing a businessman over an online article that implied she had insulted Islam.
Noor Farida, 69, claimed that Azmi Arshad authored a defamatory article, titled "Low Yat is Only a Gentle Reminder", which was uploaded to "Portal Islam & Melayu" website on July 13 last year.
Noor Farida, who used to be Malaysia's ambassador to the Netherlands, also claimed that he posted the article's link on his Facebook page and two other defamatory postings there on the same day.
Noor Farida, who filed the suit on March 7 this year, claimed that the article implied she was pejudiced against Islam, not a good Muslim, and of low morality, among others.
She claimed that the article had also been reproduced in several other online articles such as "Low Yat Riot Exposes Precarious Racial Situation", published in Malay Mail Online on July 14 last year.
Noor Farida seeks general damages, a published apology from Azmi, a court order to prevent him from further publishing or distributing the
alleged defamatory words, interests, costs, and any other relief deemed fit by the court.
When met after case management of the suit today, Noor Farida's lawyer Yap Boon Hau said High Court judge Datuk Yeoh Wee Siam encouraged parties to try resolve the matter via mediation.
Azmi's counsel Azad Bashir confirmed that Yeoh recommended the mediation while in her chambers.
Bashir said Azmi is relying on the defence of fair comment, qualified privilege and justification for the alleged defamatory words.