The Federal Court today ruled that PAS mouthpiece Harakah and Batu Burok assemblyperson Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi did not defame former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said over the school uniforms scandal.

In upholding the Court of Appeal decision, the three-member bench led by Federal Court judge Abdull Hamid Embong held that the appellant (Ahmad) has failed to raise a question of law, let alone a novel point of law in his application.

"With this, the application for leave (permission to appeal) is dismissed," said Justice Abdull Hamid.

The bench also ordered Ahmad ( photo ) to pay RM10,000 in costs to Syed Azman and two others, including Harakah .

Syed Azman and Harakah were represented by lawyers Sharifah Nur Asmaa' Syed Azman and Nadzratun Naim Hammad Azizi from Messrs Mohamed Hanipa and Associates. Ahmad was represented by lawyers Zammani Ibrahim, Rosli Khady and Helmi Hamzah.

Last year, Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Syed Azman and Harakah to pay RM200,000 damages to Ahmad following the publication of an article titled ' Seleweng RM30 juta banruan sekolah? ' (Embezzlement of RM30 million in school aide?) which was published in Harakah ’s Nov 11 to 13 (2011) issue.

However, on July 3 this year, the Court of Appeal reversed the High Court's decision and found that the defendants could rely on the defence of qualified privilege. It ordered Ahmad to pay a total of RM15,000 in costs.