KUALA LUMPUR: The case management for Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad’s defamation suit over allegations that he approved a purported gay festival here has been fixed on Oct 30.
Khalid had filed the suit against Gerakan Muslimah chief Wan Asshima Kamaruddin claiming that the latter recorded a video which contained defamatory remarks against him and uploaded it on her Facebook page.
Counsel Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal, who represented Khalid, informed reporters on the date after the case came up before deputy registrar Rumaizah Baharom today.
She also gave a copy of the document pertaining to the suit to the press today.
On Sept 13, Khalid, 61, who is also Shah Alam Member of Parliament and Amanah communications director, filed the suit at the High Court registry, here, through Messrs Mohamed Hanipa & Associates, naming Asshima as the sole defendant.
In his statement of claim, Khalid said that the defendant had on Aug 18 intentionally recorded and published a video which contained defamatory remarks against him.
He claimed that the video was directly referring to him as his name and position were specifically mentioned in the video.
The plaintiff alleged that the defamatory remarks had meant that he as a Federal Territories Minister had authorised the LGBT community in Malaysia and protected the rights of the community by successfully organising and approving the biggest gay festival in Malaysia in conjunction with the Merdeka celebration.
He also claimed that the recording had also stated that he had in his capacity as a minister, an Amanah leader and as an individual, had violated the Muslim’s rights, the law and Islamic regulations as ascribed in the Al-Quran and Sunnah, thus insulting Islam and contesting the position of Muslim women when he approved the gay festival.
He alleged that due to the publishing of the defamatory words, he had suffered embarrassment, terrible disgrace and misery as well as his reputation and credibility being tarnished.
He claimed that the allegation published by the defendant was intentional, baseless and made with malice.
Khalid was seeking for an order from the court for the defendant to publish an apology through a video to be uploaded on her Facebook page as well as a written apology to be published in Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian within 48 hours from the date of the order.
He was also seeking an injunction to prohibit the defendant in any way to cause any publishing or printing of defamatory words against him, as well as exemplary and aggravated damages.