Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Mohamed Ali today filed two defamation suits seeking RM20 million damages from Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and three others over allegations that he resorted to politics when delivering a Friday sermon at Masjid Bukit Sentosa, Hulu Selangor, two months ago.

The other three named as defendants are Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd, Poverty Eradication Foundation (YBK) chairperson Zainal Abidin Sakom and news portal Agenda Daily Dot Com Sdn Bhd.

Hasan, a Selangor state executive councillor, filed the suits at the Shah Alam High Court registry through Messrs Nazri Saad Associates.

In his statement of claim, he said that on April 24, Utusan Melayu, through a statement from Ahmad Zahid, published four defamatory articles headlined "Keghairahan Politik Terbawa Sehingga Ke Khutbah Jumaat", "Hassan Ali Salah Guna Masjid", "Pembangkang Ingkari Sultan" and "Pemimpin Pas Ingkar Perintah Sultan" in the Utusan Malaysia newspaper and Utusan Malaysia Online.

He also claimed that Agenda Daily Dot Com, through a statement from Zainal Abidin, produced a defamatory article headlined "Laporan Polis Terhadap Nik Aziz dan Hassan Ali" against him and that Zainal Abidin also slandered him in the RTM news on the same day.

Hasan claimed that the articles directly referred to him and, among others, carried the meaning that he was dishonest, untrustworthy, unqualified to deliver a sermon, had used the mosque for political gains and was a traitor to the sultan.

He claimed that the articles were published with bad intention, were false and malicious and that all the defendants had not only criticised and defamed him but had also breached morality and advocated, either openly or covertly, that he be ostracised.

He said they had malicious intent to damage his reputation and political standing and post in the party.

He is seeking RM10 million damages from Ahmad Zahid and Utusan Malaysia and another RM10 million from Zainal Abidin and Agenda Daily Dot Com, aggravated and exemplary damages, interest, costs, an injunction to restrain the defendants from speaking, writing or publishing the alleged defamatory statements against him and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.

- Bernama