Court strikes out RM2 mil suit against Pas President

The High Court here has struck out a RM2 million defamation suit brought by former PKR candidate for Bukit Besi state by-election Mohd Shamsul Mat Amin against Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

In his judgement today, Judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa also ordered Mohd Shamsul to pay RM10,000 in costs to the Marang member of parliament who was represented by his lawyer, Asmuni Awi.

Speaking to reporters later, Asmuni said the court struck out the defamation suit because the defendant (Abdul Hadi) had a qualified privilege as provided by the law in making a speech or a statement on public policy.

"The court did find the words uttered by Abdul Hadi in his speech that night as defamatory.

"Nevertheless, the court rules that the words did not refer to the plaintiff...and that the plaintiff has failed to prove that the words were directed at him," he said.

Mohd Shamsul, as the plaintiff, was accompanied by his lawyer, A. Vasudevan while Abdul Hadi did not turn up for today's proceedings.

About 100 of Abdul Hadi's supporters managed to get into the courtroom and were prepared to even sit on the floor, while 100 others were seen in the court's compound.

On Feb 23, Abdul Hadi was ordered by the High Court to pay RM2 million as damages to Mohd Shamsul in default, after the Pas president failed to respond to his suit on Dec 5, last year.

On Feb 27, Abdul Hadi filed an application to set aside the judgement in default.

Mohd Shamsul took the action after Abdul Hadi issued a statement that since a PKR candidate was selling psychotropic pills before the last general election, it was a reason to put up a Pas candidate in the Bukit Besi state constituency, which saw a three-cornered fight in the contest.

In his statement of claim, Mohd Shamsul also alleged a speech by Abdul Hadi at a ceramah in Kampung Tebakang Alor Limbat, Marang on April 22, last year had affected his dignity and that of his family, as well as his reputation as a candidate and businessman.