Restaurant operator seeks RM1m in damages from Perlis mufti

A restaurant operator is seeking RM1 million in defamation damages from Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

Ahmad Muzaini Mydin's defamation suit is over the allegation that he was a suspect in the torching of Asri's car on March 22, 2019.

According to the civil action filed at the Kangar High Court on June 7 this year, Muzaini claimed that Asri (above) uploaded a defamatory posting to DrMaza.com Facebook page on May 22, 2019.

Under Malaysian law, a defamation suit can be filed within six years of the alleged cause of action.

The 38-year-old claimed that the social media posting contained his picture alongside writings about the police arrest of two suspects over the arson.

The owner of a chain of restaurants in Kangar rubbished the allegation, claiming that the defendant uploaded the posting with malice.

It should be noted that in July 2019, a suspect (not Muzaini) was charged at the Kangar Sessions Court with burning Asri's car.

Muzaini claimed that Asri failed to abide by his letter of demand issued earlier this year to apologise and pay damages over the Facebook post.

Apology and injuction

Besides RM1 million in general damages, the plaintiff also seeks a court order to compel the defendant to publish an apology in newspapers and social media.

Muzaini also seeks an injunction to prevent Asri from further repeating the alleged defamatory statement.

In his statement of defence filed on Aug 26 this year, Asri denied having defamed Muzaini as he was not the owner or operator of DrMaza.com Facebook page.

The 53-year-old contended that he did not know about the alleged defamatory posting at DrMaza.com.

Asri also relied on several other defences such as justification (willing to prove a statement in court), fair comment, expression of opinion in the public interest, and qualified privilege.

The law firm Ku Nur Farahi & Co represented Muzaini while the law firm Faizal Rahman acted for Asri.

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