KUALA LUMPUR: Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has filed a RM10 million defamation suit against Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holdings (GISBH), accusing the company of damaging his reputation by alleging he attempted to undermine its business.
The lawsuit, filed on Oct 1 through Messrs. Faizal Rahman & Co., names GISBH and its deputy director-general Mokhtar Tajuddin as defendants.
According to the statement of claim, Mohd Asri alleges that GISBH posted defamatory statements about him on its official Facebook page under the name "GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd" on Aug 28, accompanied by a public poster.
The plaintiff claimed that during a press conference on Aug 29, GISBH issued statements implying that he had defamed the company and spread false information, thereby tarnishing its reputation.
Mohd Asri contended that these statements suggested he had intentionally harmed the defendant's business.
Upon the release of the statements, Mohd Asri said he received a demand letter from the defendant accusing him of defamation.
"The defamatory statements were repeated in a press conference which was broadcast via Facebook Live and Ikhwan TV," he said.
"The public nature of these posts subjected me to public trial and denied me the opportunity to respond to GISBH's demand letter."
Mohd Asri is seeking RM10 million in aggravated and exemplary damages, general damages, costs, interest, and any other relief the court deems appropriate.
He is also requesting that GISBH issue a formal apology within 14 days of the judgment, which should be published in major newspapers such as Utusan Malaysia, Sinar Harian, Berita Harian, New Straits Times, and on GISBH's Facebook page for 30 days.
Mohd Asri is also seeking the removal of all defamatory statements from all social media platforms under GISBH's control, including Facebook, Twitter, Blogspot, TikTok, and Instagram.