THE Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected an application by PAS to strike a defamation suit by Mujahid Yusof Rawa against the party over claims the Amanah vice-president supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Mujahid’s counsel, Noorazmir Zakaria said judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh made the decision yesterday and ordered the party to pay RM3,000 in costs to Mujahid.

The trial is set for November 24 to 26, 2025.

Lawyer Mohd Faizi Che Abu, representing PAS, said the court rejected the party’s application after finding issues that need to be addressed, including whether the Facebook account was owned by PAS.

On February 15, PAS, represented by its secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, filed a bid to strike Mujahid’s suit on the basis that he as plaintiff failed to reveal any reasonable clause of action against the party.

Mujahid filed his suit on December 15, 2022, claiming that on October 16 the same year, PAS had with malicious intent deliberately damaged his reputation and slandered him by publishing a defamatory statement via a status update on the party’s Facebook account.

Mujahid is seeking a court order for a retraction and to delete the defamatory statement and his photo within 14 days from the day of judgment, in addition to general, exemplary and aggravated damages.

In its statement of defence, PAS claimed the plaintiff’s statement of demand was flawed and invalid as he failed to name the offender who had control over and published the article in question. – Bernama, June 23, 2023.