Hasan Ali wins defamation suit against Khalid Abdul Samad

Jalur Tiga Malaysia (Jati) president Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali today won the defamation suit against Shah Alam member of Parliament and Selangor PAS Deputy Commissioner 111 Khalid Abdul Samad for making defamatory statements about him at a press conference in February 2012.

Judge Datuk Yaacob Md Sam held that the plaintiff, Hasan, had managed to prove Khalid's statement was made with malice and scheduled Nov 27 for the decision on damages and cost.

"Weighing the statements and submissions from both parties, the court finds that the defendant had gone beyond self-defence during the press conference. He had passed the limit and touched upon an issue which was unrelated to the matter accused by the plaintiff, namely the 'parasite' issue.

"The defendant's statement was more than fair comment and cannot be protected under qualified privilege). The plaintiff has proven that the defendant's statement was malicious and therefore the court allows the claim with cost," he said.

Hasan, who is also former Selangor PAS commissioner and state executive member, filed the defamation suit in April 12 claiming Khalid had uttered defamatory words against him at a press conference on Feb 24 last year.

Hasan claimed that Khalid had further published the words in an article on his blog and that the reporters at the press conference had posted it on the news portals "mstar" and "Malaysiakini".

Hasan sought general, exemplary and aggravated damages and an injunction to prevent Khalid from further publishing the defamatory statement.

Five witnesses were called upon throughout the hearing, two for the plaintiff and three for the defendant.

Hasan was represented by counsel Hasnal Rezua Merican, while defence counsel Azhana Mohd Khairudin appeared for Khalid.