KUALA LUMPUR: DAP vice chairman Teresa Kok has filed a defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Salleh over his alleged slanderous remarks aimed at her on the country's halal certification issue.
The Seputeh member of parliament claimed Akmal had defamed her in two articles published on a news portal titled "Akmal: Saya Minta Kerajaan Sediakan Logo Non-Halal, Tampal Pada Dahi Teresa" and "UMNO Youth Chief swipes at "old Nyonya" Teresa over halal cert" on Sept 8.
She is seeking among others, general, compensatory, aggravated, and exemplary damages from Akmal, a Melaka state assemblyman and exco member.
She also sought an injunction to restrain him from further uttering, writing or publishing any similar words defamatory to her as well as other reliefs deemed just and fit by the court.
In Kok's statement of claim dated Oct 14, she alleged that Akmal, as the defendant, had made specific insulting, derogatory and demeaning remarks against her which constituted to defamation, false libel and fabrication.
She said his remarks had meant that she was racist, someone who is unlawful (haram), does not respect Islam and does not have any knowledge particularly about halal certification and against government policies on Islamic practices.
She further said Akmal's remarks were untrue, excessive, vile, had no basis and tainted with an indisputable undertone of racism.
"The plaintiff's (Kok) statements were clearly on the process of obtaining halal certification by operators in the food and beverage industry. However, these statements have been subjected to ridicule, exaggeration, and/or excessive amplification through the impugned oral statements made by the defendant (Akmal).
"Such misrepresentation by the defendant distorts the original context and intent of the plaintiff's remarks, potentially misleading the public and unjustly tarnishing the plaintiff's reputation within her professional domain.
"It was premeditated and intended to belittle, tarnish, injure and defame the plaintiff's reputation and character. The defendant has also stubbornly refused to apologise and retract the statements, continuing to publish the video and deliberately not deleting it to this day, resulting in the prolongation and continuation of the defamation ," said the document.
Law firm, SN Nair & Partners which is representing Kok, said Akmal was served with the writ of summons filed at the Melaka High Court on Oct 23.
Previously, Kok, had demanded RM25 million in damages from Akmal over his alleged defamatory statement over the halal certification made on a TikTok video.
In her letter of demand, Kok claimed that the slanderous and libellous statements against her were defamatory, both in plain meaning and by implication.
Akmal had allegedly criticised Kok's claim that mandating halal certification for restaurants and food companies would only burden traders.
Kok had said the requirement could burden small businesses, restrict consumer freedom, and potentially clash with Malaysia's cultural diversity.
Police had opened an investigation paper against Kok over her statement on the issue.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar then announced that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department was reviewing a proposal to require halal certification for restaurants and food companies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also said that Kok's comments on halal certification did not reflect the position of Pakatan Harapan (PH).