FORMER PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin made a public apology to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, settling a defamation suit brought by the latter against the former.

Zuraida, 65, when reading the apology before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Norakhmar Mohd Sani, said she had made a defamatory statement against the Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general in her speech during a dinner at the Renaissance Hotel on December 8, 2019.

“With regard to the defamation suit filed by Saifuddin, both parties have agreed to settle the matter with an open apology in this court.

“I hereby retract the defamatory statement made and apologise to Saifuddin,” said Zuraida.

The court then recorded the settlement reached by both parties and cleared the trial dates set for three days from today.

Earlier, lawyer Navpreet Singh, representing Saifuddin as the plaintiff and whose absence was excused today, said the plaintiff and the defendant (Zuraida) had reached a settlement through a consent judgment and the terms of the agreement are to be recorded today.

Navpreet said the plaintiff has withdrawn the writ as well as statement of claim and the defendant has withdrawn the statement of defence. 

“In addition, the defendant retracts the defamatory statement and agrees to make a verbal apology in court today.

“Both parties agree this judgment is a full and final settlement, and this lawsuit is dismissed, and the plaintiff and defendant have no freedom to file again,” said the lawyer, adding that there were no orders for costs.

Counsel Nizamuddin Hamid representing Zuraida, confirmed the matter.

Zuraida, when met by reporters, said she was grateful the case was resolved amicably.

Saifuddin, 58, filed the lawsuit on July 21, 2020, claiming that the defamatory statement was uttered at the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 dinner that took place on the last day of PKR 14th National Congress in Malacca.

Saifuddin claimed that the defamatory statement implied that he engaged in fraud and corruption because he received millions in bribes to join PAS or PKR or to hold a position in the public sector.

He claimed the former housing and local government minister had malicious intent to tarnish his credibility and image as a politician, public servant in the eyes of the general public, PKR members and PH supporters. – Bernama, November 14, 2023.