Zuraida apologises to Saifuddin, settles defamation suit

Former housing and local government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has apologised to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as part of a settlement of the latter’s defamation suit against her.

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court recorded the settlement during open-court proceedings this morning.

In 2020, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin filed the civil action against the former party vice-president over allegations linked to the Kelantan government and Tabung Amanah Tok Kenali.

When contacted this morning, Saifuddin’s counsel Navpreet Singh confirmed that part of the settlement includes her apology as well as retracting her statements which attracted the lawsuit.

“The consent judgment has been recorded. I attended on behalf of the plaintiff, Saifuddin. The parties have entered into a consent order.

“The terms of the order were recorded before the judge today. Zuraida was in attendance; Saifuddin did not attend.

“Briefly, the parties have agreed to withdraw their respective claims against each other. Zuraida has retracted her statements made against Saifuddin and rendered an apology in open court.

“The terms of this settlement are full and final, with both parties not having any liberty to file afresh. No order as to costs,” Navpreet said in the open-court proceedings before judge Norakhmar Mohd Sani.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin also spoke about the settlement during a press conference at the Parliament lobby this morning.

He said the case should serve as an example to all politicians against throwing slander.

"She ended up apologising to me openly, as it was clear that her remarks were defamatory in nature and aimed at damaging my reputation.

"I hope this will be a lesson to all politicians," he said.

PKR rift

The defamation action came after PKR served a show-cause letter against Zuraida over remarks against PKR president Anwar Ibrahim at a dinner in December 2019.

Saifuddin previously claimed the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat had at one time appointed Saifuddin to head the state government-linked company from 2004 to 2007.

Zuraida, who is former Ampang MP, was among the leaders aligned to then PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who spoke during a gathering on Dec 8, 2019, at the height of a rift within the party, which was marked by a walkout during the final day of PKR’s annual congress.

She then became a minister in the Perikatan Nasional administration following the collapse of the previous Pakatan Harapan government in 2020.

Besides the housing and local government portfolio, she was also plantation, industries and commodities minister during the PN administration.

PKR also succeeded in a separate RM10 million suit against Zuraida over her leaving the party to defect to Bersatu in 2020, which triggered the Harapan government’s collapse.

However, Zuraida is attempting to have the decision quashed before the Court of Appeal.

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