Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) has won a RM2.5 million lawsuit against a Muslim preacher over defamation about KJ’s vaccination status.
The KL High Court here today ordered independent preacher Mohd. Rasyiq Mohd. Alwi to pay RM 2.5 million in damages to Khairy Jamaluddin for defamation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan made this decision after allowing a defamation suit filed by Khairi as the plaintiff against Mohd. Rasyiq, also known as Ustaz Abu Syafiq.
In addition to RM2.5 million in damages, the court also ordered the defendant to pay costs of RM50,000 to the plaintiff. The court said that Ustaz Abu Syafiq had tarnished the reputation of Khairy as the Health Minister back then.
“This fact tends to degrade the plaintiff’s reputation and cast a direct negative light on his reputation in the country and expose him to hatred, contempt and ridicule in society.”
What did Ustaz Abu Syafiq say about KJ?
Khairy had filed a suit against Ustaz Abu Syafiq in 2022 over allegations that he had ‘deceived’ the country about his vaccination status. He claimed that the preacher’s statement had affected the government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and demanded compensation from Ustaz Abu Syafiq.
The suit was filed following online posts between October 20, 2021, and January 10, 2022, regarding the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program. It was filed after the defendant refused to comply with Khairy’s demands, including deleting the slanderous remarks, as reported by Sinar Harian.
Former health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also presented evidence during the proceedings. He told the court that Khairy received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine and one Pfizer booster dose in 2021.
