The High Court in Shah Alam today fixed Nov 22 for case management of Selangor Umno’s RM10 million defamation suit against PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali and five others, on the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) controversial inspection of the Damansara Utama Methodist Church last Aug 3.

When contacted, Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, representing Umno, said Deputy Registrar Sara Zuriati Zaharifudin set the date to allow time for the defendants to file their defence and for the plaintiff to file its counter affidavit.

On Sept 14, Selangor Umno liaison secretary Mohd Zin Mohamed, as the plaintiff, filed the suit at the High Court civil registry here through Messrs Hafarizam, Wan & Aisha Mubarak.

He named Mustafa as the first defendant, and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, the Harakah newspaper publisher, Angkatan Edaran Ent Sdn Bhd, Harakah editor Ahmad Lutfi Othman and Harakah reporter Khairul Azlam Mohamad, as the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants, respectively.

In his statement of claim, Mohd Zin said Mustafa on Aug 15, this year, was interviewed by Khairul during which the first defendant had allegedly made defamatory statements implying that Umno had played a role in Jais’ operations at the church on Aug 3.

The plaintiff claimed Mustafa allowed the statements to be published in PAS’ newspaper, Harakah , between Aug 19 and 21, under the heading, ‘ PAS akan dedah bukti, Umno main peranan operasi Jais ’ (Pas will expose evidence, Umno played a role in Jais’ operation).

Mohd Zin is claiming RM10 million in damages, including aggravated or exemplary, at an interest of four percent per annum and an injunction to refrain the defendants from speaking or publishing similar defamatory words through the newspapers or the Internet.

He is also asking for a written apology from the defendants through the newspapers and magazine, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.  

- Bernama