Jamal Yunos issues public apology to Khairy, settling defamation suit
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 party leadership.
KUALA LUMPUR - The defamation suit filed by former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin against Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos was resolved today after the Sungai Besar Umno Division chief issued a public apology before the High Court here.
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 admitted that his allegations against the former Rembau member of parliament were false, unfounded and lacking in sufficient 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.
Earlier, Khairy's counsel, Harshaan Muhammad Zamani, informed the court that both parties had agreed to settle the matter on the terms of the resolution reached.
This was confirmed by lawyers Mohammed Nasser Yusof and Mohamad Fauzi Abdul Samad, acting for Jamal.
At today's proceedings, Harshaan was assisted by counsel Shakeel Mohd Saifuzzaman, Muhamad 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 party leadership. - BERNAMA
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