Animal caricatures: PKR Youth leader says sorry to PAS MP, defamation suit settled

PKR Youth deputy chief Nabil Halimi has apologised to PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari over statements that had led to a RM1 million defamation suit filed by the latter.

The suit concerned a social media post by Nabil (above, right) in relation to Fadhli's initial post of a cartoon depicting a goat and a sheep fighting over a banana, with a monkey acting as the judge.

The PAS leader's post carried this caption: “A monkey need not preside over the case involving a goat and sheep fighting over a banana”, while attaching a news article on the Thailand-Cambodia conflict on the side.

In a joint statement today, Nabil and Fadhli said the apology was part of a settlement reached between the two parties at the Shah Alam High Court, without any admission of liability by Nabil.

"The parties have agreed to resolve this dispute amicably and bring the matter to a close, allowing each to focus on other more important issues, particularly those concerning the interests of the people and the nation," the statement said.

Following the settlement, Fadhli agreed to withdraw the suit once the court recorded the agreed terms.

In August last year, Nabil confirmed receiving a letter of demand from Fadhli, in which the Pasir Mas MP demanded a public apology and payment of RM1 million in damages, among others, over an allegedly defamatory social media post.

Fadhli's post, which drew outrage, came after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim successfully mediated an unconditional ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia following peace talks organised by the PKR president in Putrajaya.

Critics accused Fadhli of mocking Malaysia’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the warring neighbours.

In response to the post, Nabil had labelled Fadhli as a "national traitor" who must be investigated by the police.

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