KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has obtained an injunction to stop Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi from making any statement on the quarantine issue against him on Facebook.
The former education minister is hence barred from making any statement on his Facebook against Muhyiddin pertaining to the alleged double-standard quarantine issue.
Muhyiddin's counsel Rosli Dahlan said High Court judge Datuk Mohd Firuz Jaffril made the ruling pending Puad's bid to strike out a previous injunction order which would end next week.
"The court has fixed May 24 for hearing applications from both sides.
"His lawyer has also sent their affidavits yesterday… we will respond (to it)," he said.
Meanwhile, Puad's counsel G Rajasingam said they did not object to the new application filed by Muhyiddin.
He said the previous injunction will expire on March 21 and this new ad interim injunction will come into effect the next day.
The same court on March 1, granted the prime minister an interim injunction to stop the former deputy education minister from making any statement relating to the issue.
The injunction was obtained by an urgent application filed by Muhyiddin pending the disposal of the inter parte hearing.
This after Muhyiddin filed a defamation suit against Puad over the latter's statement on his Facebook account questioning the alleged double standards involving the three-day quarantine issue.
According to the statement of claim, Muhyiddin said Puad had tarnished his integrity and goodwill, and eroded public confidence in him.
Muhyiddin said the statement made by the defendant had caused him to be brought into public scandal, odium and disrepute.
He is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages with the amount to be assessed by the court.
He is also seeking an injunction to restrain Puad or his associates or representatives from publishing, posting, sharing the Facebook post or continuing to do so, as well as an injunction to stop such actions in relation to statements similar or related to the Facebook post.
The prime minister is also seeking a court order for Puad to immediately, prominently and permanently publish an unequivocal public apology on his Facebook page "Dr Puad Zarkashi" in terms to be dictated by Muhyiddin.