The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today struck out a suit filed by a Syiah follower who was arrested in a raid in December last year against a former director of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and the department.

Justice VT Singham made the decision after allowing an application by the former Jais director, Muhammad Khusrin Munawi, and Jais to strike out the suit.

In the suit filed on June 16, Mohd Kamilzuhairi Abdul Aziz named the publisher and printer of the daily Utusan Malaysia and weekly newspaper Mingguan Malaysia , Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad, Muhammad Khusrin and Jais as defendants for allegedly publishing slanderous statement on the raid.

Since Utusan did not file an application to strike out the suit, the court set another date for mention of the case.

In his judgment, Singham ruled that the statements issued by Muhammad Khusrin and Jais on Dec 16 last year, which was then published in Utusan Malaysia the following day (Dec 17), did not refer to Mohd Kamilzuhairi or any individuals.

He said the statements also did not indicate that Mohd Kamilzuhairi was a Syiite member or head.

“Therefore, the statements cannot be regarded or assumed to refer to the plaintiff (Mohd Kamilzuhairi), unless the plaintiff himself feels that way,” he added.

However, Singham said that Mohd Kamilzuhairi, in his statement of claim, admitted that he was a Shiite follower.

He ordered Mohd Kamilzuhairi to pay cost of RM3,5000 to both the defendants.

- Bernama