Zuraida fails to hand writ of summons to Jamal - lawyer

The High Court, here, was informed that the writ of summons for defamation filed by Ampang Member of Parliament, Zuraida Kamaruddin against Sungai Besar UMNO division chief, Datuk Jamal Md Yunos failed to be delivered to him until today.

Lawyer Latheefa Koya, representing Zuraida, told reporters that following this, judge S. Nantha Balan set Jan 16 for case mention.

"We have made efforts to hand the writ of summons to the defendant (Jamal) at his residence and office, but failed," she said after the case management today in chambers.

Latheefa said they would file an application for delivery method replacement, whether using newspaper advertisements, placing the writ of summons on the court's noticeboard or sending a copy of the writ via the postal service.

Last Nov 17, Zuraida filed a suit, naming Jamal who is also the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations of Malaysia chairman, for allegedly using defamatory words against her at a shopping complex in Ampang.

Zuraida claimed that the defamatory words were widely published through the print and electronic media, and online news portals including Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Malaysiakini, Buletin Utama TV3 and Astro Awani.

She also claimed that due to the publication of the defamatory words, her reputation as a parliamentarian had been tarnished as she is a public figure. -- Bernama