KUALA LUMPUR: DAP vice-president Teresa Kok has demanded RM25 million in damages from Umno youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over his alleged defamatory statement over the halal certification.
Kok, who is also the Seputeh member of parliament, made this demand in her letter of demand issued through Messrs SN Nair & Partners today in response to Dr Akmal's statement made in a TikTok video last Saturday.
In the letter, Kok claimed that the slanderous and libellous statements against her were defamatory, both in plain meaning and by implication.
"The statement falsely suggests that our client is a racist, disrespectful of Islam, uninformed about halal certification, insensitive, opposed to government policies on Islamic practices, a threat to national peace and harmony, and disloyal to the country.
"Taken individually or together, these claims harm our client's reputation by portraying her as an enemy of the state and society.
"Our client is dismayed that despite her clarification being made public, you have acted negligently, recklessly, and maliciously by failing to take down or retract the slanderous and libellous statements in question," said the letter.
Kok is also demanding that Dr Akmal retract his statement and issue an unconditional apology in a manner and form that she approves.
She gave Dr Akmal a seven-day ultimatum to meet all her demands before proceeding with legal action.
It was reported that Dr Akmal criticised Kok's claim that mandating halal certification for restaurants and food companies would only burden traders.
Kok, who is DAP vice-chairman had said the requirement could burden small businesses, restrict consumer freedom, and potentially clash with Malaysia's cultural diversity.
On Sunday, police opened an investigation paper against Kok over her statement on the issue.
Last Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar announced that Jakim is reviewing a proposal to require halal certification for restaurants and food companies.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Kok's comments on halal certification did not reflect the position of Pakatan Harapan (PH).