PETALING JAYA: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has won her defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, with the High Court ordering him to pay RM250,000 in damages.
Her lawyer, SN Nair, said the High Court in Melaka awarded Kok the sum for the damage caused to her reputation.
The case stems from remarks Akmal made 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.
Kok had warned that the proposal could burden businesses, particularly smaller operators. Akmal responded by calling her an “old nyonya” and suggesting that a "non-halal" label be placed on her forehead.
In a statement announcing the win today, Nair said the court also ordered Akmal to remove the defamatory remarks from all his social media platforms.
Akmal and those acting on his behalf were also barred from repeating the remarks or making similar defamatory statements about Kok.
The court further ordered Akmal to pay RM50,000 in legal costs.
Nair said Kok welcomed the decision, describing it as an important step in protecting her reputation and holding people accountable for defamatory statements.
He said public debate must be conducted responsibly, adding that freedom of expression did not protect anyone from the legal consequences of defaming another person.
When contacted, Akmal’s lawyer Syahrul Syazwan Salehin said he needed to first advise his client and obtain instructions before deciding on further action.