Perlis mufti files RM10m defamation suit against Facebook user

Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has turned to the civil court seeking RM10 million in defamation damages from a Facebook user.

The plaintiff’s civil action is over one Mohd Nawawi Abdul Razak’s online statements alleging the former has links to the controversial company Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH).

Filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Oct 10, the state mufti’s lawsuit is over the netizen’s four Facebook posts on Sept 20.

According to the statement of claim, Asri rubbished the claims, contending he is a Muslim who has never deviated from the faith and has never done any deviant practices.

Asri pointed out that Perlis had on Sept 20 issued a fatwa declaring GISBH as deviant, alleging that the group’s members elevated their leaders to the same level as Prophet Muhammad.

“The plaintiff furthermore states that the plaintiff is among the first individuals to censure (menegah) and/or oppose and/or urge the authorities to take action against GISBH,” he said.

Asri claimed that the Facebook user continued to spread defamation despite having been served a letter of demand for him to stop.

Besides the RM10 million in aggravated and exemplary damages, the plaintiff also seeks for the defendant to make an apology to be carried in several newspapers, Facebook and several other social media platforms like X and TikTok.

Asri also seeks a court order for Nawawi to remove the alleged defamatory statement from the internet.

Law firm Faizal Rahman & Co is representing Asri.

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