Jamal apologises to Khairy, settling defamation suit

The defamation suit filed by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin against Jamal Yunos was resolved today after the Sungai Besar Umno division chief issued a public apology before the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Khairy initiated the suit on May 24, 2023, arising from a media statement allegedly containing defamatory remarks made during the 2022 Umno general assembly on Jan 14 of that year.

Reading the draft consent judgment, Jamal (above) admitted that his allegations against the former Rembau MP were false, unfounded, and lacking in evidence.

"I sincerely regret the publication and dissemination of the said statements, which have caused distress, public contempt and injury to Khairy's reputation, character and credibility.

"Accordingly, I hereby retract fully all defamatory statements I issued against Khairy during the media conference and in the said publication," he said.

Jamal admitted he had falsely alleged that Khairy hired or paid delegates to jeer and also implied the former leader was corrupt and lacked integrity.

"I acknowledge that my statements during the media conference and in the said publication bore the meaning or imputation that Khairy is a person lacking integrity, is unfit as a leader, and was involved in corrupt practices, all of which are wholly false and without foundation.

"Accordingly, I hereby agree to immediately and permanently remove the video recording of the said media conference and any form of publication from the Facebook account 'DS Jamal Yunos (DS Jamal Yunos Official)' and the TikTok account 'jamal_yunos', and to ensure that such publications are no longer accessible to the public," he stated.

Jamal further undertook not to repeat or republish any similar or equivalent statements against Khairy in the future.

Judge Anand Ponnudurai thereafter recorded a consent judgment in terms of the settlement set out in the draft judgment.

Resolution reached

Earlier, Khairy’s counsel, Harshaan Zamani, informed the court that both parties had agreed to settle the matter on the terms of the resolution reached.

Lawyers Nasser Yusof and Fauzi Abdul Samad, who were acting for Jamal, confirmed this.

At today's proceedings, Harshaan was assisted by counsels Shakeel Saifuzzaman, Nur Aizat Noor Azam, and Sheetal Kaur Arwinder Singh.

According to the statement of claim, Khairy alleged that Jamal had convened a media conference at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre attended by media practitioners, Umno delegates, and several party members and leaders during the 2022 Umno general assembly on Jan 14, 2023.

He further alleged that on the same day, Jamal uploaded a defamatory video recording titled "I hope Khairy Jamaluddin is disciplined by the Umno disciplinary committee after issuing careless and embarrassing statements about Umno #UmnoDuluKiniDanSelamanya" on his Facebook and TikTok accounts.

Khairy claimed that the defamatory statements bore the imputation, inter alia, that he was a leader devoid of integrity, unfit for leadership, and disloyal to Umno and its leadership.

- Bernama

SNAPSHOT | Jamal reports DAP rep for 'instigating' hate against ruler; Geramm backs Mkini journo

PAS wants DAP rep suspended over pig farming proposal, Jamal says she can leave S'gor

'I've been patient a long time' - Teresa tells Jamal to watch his tongue

Jamal raises RM66k for Teresa, then recommends she invests it in pigs

Jamal Yunos raises RM66k with his 'protest towel', slipper