KUALA LUMPUR – DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok is seeking RM25 million in damages from Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Salleh over his allegedly defamatory remarks regarding the halal certification issue.
According to a letter of demand issued to Akmal by Kok’s legal counsel S.N. Nair & Partners today, the Seputeh MP is seeking the amount due to the gravity of Akmal’s actions and the resultant repercussions.
Kok is also demanding that Akmal retract his remarks against her and remove them from his social media accounts, as well as publish in newspapers or media outlets of her choice an “unconditional and irrevocable apology”.
Besides seeking for Akmal to bear all legal costs and expenses arising from the matter, Kok also wants the Merlimau assemblyman to submit a written undertaking not to repeat other similarly slanderous comments against her.
Akmal has been given seven working days to respond to the notice. If he fails to respond within the stipulated time frame, legal action will be initiated “with no further reference” to him.
Based on the letter, Akmal, in a video posted on TikTok, called Kok an “Nyonya tua” (old Nyonya) and said that she should not interfere with Islamic matters, particularly regarding the halal certification proposal.
Akmal also allegedly called Kok an “embarrassment” to the country and said that it would be better for her to remain silent on matters concerning Islam while calling for the government to stick a ‘non-halal’ logo on her forehead.
His comments, the letter said, had “deliberately exaggerated and/or unduly amplified and/or maliciously twisted” Kok’s statements with an intent to defame her while giving the public the impression that Kok is, among others, a “racist”, a person who “does not respect Islam” and “an enemy of the state and is disloyal to the country.”
“You have subjected our client to significant and/or humiliating pressure from the community and have caused our client to be subjected to an investigation by the police,” the latter said, noting that Akmal had failed to take down and retract the impugned statements against Kok even after she had clarified her stance on the matter.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post regarding the legal letter served to him, Akmal said: “Ok nyonya. We’ll meet in court. No fear, no surrender.”
Yesterday, Kok had given her statement to police to facilitate a probe into her remarks objecting to the Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) proposal for mandatory halal certification for restaurants and food businesses, including those which do not serve pork or alcohol.
The police investigation into Kok’s remarks are being conducted under Section 298 and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.
Section 298 pertains to wounding the religious feelings of others, while Section 505 pertains to statements conducing to mischief. Section 233 of the CMA is on improper use of network facilities. – September 11, 2024