Court rejects Zahid's interim injunction bid against Muhyiddin


The High Court has rejected Bagan Datuk MP Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's interim injuction bid against former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 8, 2022.

The High Court today dismissed Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application for an interim injunction to prevent Muhyiddin Yassin from issuing any statement on the allegation that he had sought help to solve or postpone the trial of his criminal cases.

Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff made the decision via online proceedings.

Zahid’s counsel, Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, when contacted by the media, said the judge dismissed the application on grounds that the issues raised by the parties, such as whether the statements by Muhyiddin (defendant) were defamatory or not, must be decided at a trial.

 “The case is now to proceed for trial. The court has fixed October 3 for next case management,” he said.

The court also awarded RM5,000 in costs to Muhyiddin and this was confirmed by his lawyer, Rosli Dahlan.

In the suit filed on April 4, the Bagan Datuk MP sought an ex-parte injunction for Muhyiddin or his representative to withdraw the defamatory statements or similar defamatory statements against him.

He is also seeking an interim injunction for the defendant to delete, edit, and stop the publication of part of the video footage that contained the defamatory statements in online news portals and social media, including on Perikatan’s Facebook page, Astro Awani’s YouTube channel and KiniTV.

According to the statement of claim, Zahid, 69, stated that on February 16, during the 15th Johor election campaign trail in Mersing, at the compound of the Learning Centre Sentuhan Kasih Felda Tenggaroh 3, Muhyiddin had made a defamatory statement with ill intention and malice against him.

He claimed that video footage of the defamatory statement was also published on Astro Awani’s YouTube channel, which is managed by Astro Awani, on the same day.

According to Zahid, the statement by Muhyiddin implied that he had used a shortcut to settle and postpone his ongoing court cases, and that he had asked for Muhyiddin’s help to intervene in the court cases and the judiciary system, and to order the dissolution of the Johor assembly.  

He said it also implied that he was not a respectable and exemplary leader.

Zahid claimed that the allegations were false and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

He is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an order for Muhyiddin to publish a public apology in newspapers, and other reliefs and costs deemed fit by the court. – Bernama, August 8, 2022.


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