KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has won RM250,000 in damages in her defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over remarks he made during a dispute on halal certification.
Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the High Court in Melaka also ordered Dr Akmal to pay RM50,000 in legal costs, remove the defamatory statements from his social media accounts within seven days and refrain from repeating them or making similar remarks about Kok.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Kok said she hoped the judgment would serve as a reminder that democratic freedoms must be exercised responsibly.
“I hope this judgment serves as a reminder that democratic freedoms must be exercised responsibly. I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving the people and defending democratic values,” she said.
“The law has spoken, and justice has prevailed,” she added.
Kok said the lawsuit was not about financial gain or silencing political opponents, but about defending her dignity and upholding the rule of law.
The dispute began in September 2024 after Kok questioned a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food businesses that did not serve pork or alcohol, warning that the requirement could burden operators, particularly smaller businesses.
Dr Akmal responded by calling Kok an “old nyonya” and suggesting that a “non-halal” label be placed on her forehead.
Kok said political differences should be addressed through facts and reasoned debate rather than personal vilification, adding that no one should be above the law regardless of political prominence.
FMT quoted Dr Akmal’s lawyer Syahrul Syazwan Salehin as saying he would advise his client and obtain instructions before deciding whether to take further action.