logo
Hannah Yeoh wins defamation suit, Kamarul Zaman ordered to pay RM400k in damages

Hannah Yeoh wins defamation suit, Kamarul Zaman ordered to pay RM400k in damages

Borneo Post30-05-2025
Hannah Yeoh
KUALA LUMPUR (May 30): The High Court has ruled in favour of Segambut Member of Parliament Hannah Yeoh and ordered Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff to pay RM400,000 in damages for the defamatory remarks he made eight years ago.
The decision was delivered by Judge Datuk Aliza Sulaiman, who allowed Hannah's claim after finding no merit in the defendant's submission that she lacked locus standi to initiate the suit.
The defamation suit, filed in 2022, arose from two Facebook posts made by Kamarul Zaman between May 10 and May 17, 2017, in which he alleged that Hannah had a proselytising agenda and was using her political platform to advance Christianity.
He also cited her autobiography, Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey, as evidence of her purported Christian agenda, further alleging that she sought to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation.
In his statement of defence, Kamarul Zaman denied that the posts were defamatory and asserted that his statements were justified.
Judge Aliza held that the court was satisfied the plaintiff, Hannah, had discharged the burden of proof on a balance of probabilities in establishing that the first and second posts were defamatory of her.
'He (defendant) suggests the plaintiff (Hannah) is a threat to Islam and used her position to 'Christianise' the country.
'In a multiracial and multireligious country where the issue of religion is, of course, very sensitive, this would surely expose the plaintiff to hatred, ridicule and contempt,' she said.
The judge further noted that the defendant had pleaded the defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege, but found that none had been successfully established.
'Even if the defences of fair comment and qualified privilege were established, the plaintiff had pleaded particulars of malice in the reply to the defence, and in my view has proven on the balance of probabilities that the defendant was actuated by malice,' said the judge.
Judge Aliza further held that if the defendant genuinely believed the plaintiff had committed an offence, lodging a police report would have been sufficient. Instead, the defendant chose to publish it on Facebook.
She noted that the publication was not in dispute, and it was evident from both the titles and content that the statements were directed specifically at the plaintiff.
The judge also rejected the defence's contention that the first publication was aimed at DAP as a political party, rather than the plaintiff personally.
'Even the defendant's own pleadings mentioned the plaintiff by name, and the title of the article made the target unmistakable. The defendant's personal understanding of the book is not relevant, as what matters is how an ordinary reader would interpret the statements.
'The readers would reasonably believe that the plaintiff was spreading Christianity unlawfully and, by implication, committing a crime,' she said.
Judge Aliza allowed the plaintiff's claim upon finding that the plaintiff had established her case on a balance of probabilities and that the defendant had acted with malice.
'The court awards RM400,000 as general and aggravated damages to be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff. This means, RM200,000 per publication and RM80,000 in costs,' she said.
The judge, however, dismissed Hannah's application for Kamarul Zaman to issue a public apology, saying that such an apology could be seen as insincere.
She also granted an injunction to restrain the defendant, his servants, or agents from republishing the impugned words or similar statements.
Hannah was present in court today, accompanied by her counsel, Sangeet Kaur Deo, while the defendant, Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, was not in attendance. – Bernama Court defamation suit Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff Hannah Yeoh lead
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Abortion pills: Repeat offender fined
Abortion pills: Repeat offender fined

Daily Express

time44 minutes ago

  • Daily Express

Abortion pills: Repeat offender fined

Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 By: Cynthia D Baga Text Size: The offence under Regulation 7 (1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetic Regulations 1984 carries a jail term of up to three years, or a fine of up to RM50,000 or both, on conviction. Kota Kinabalu: A 29-year-old man who has previous conviction record for selling unregistered products, was fined a total of RM12,000 for having unregistered products used for abortion. Edrick Agunchai pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to two counts against him. On the first count, Edrick was fined RM5,000 in default five months' imprisonment for having 50 tablets of Cytotec Misoprostol 200mg which was not registered with the Ministry of Health (MOH) at 2pm on Oct 27, 2022 at the J&T Express in Inanam Taipan, near here. On the second count, he was ordered to pay another RM7,000 or spend six months in jail for having 86 unregistered tablets of Cytotec Misoprostol 200mg at 4.45pm on the same day at a unit of apartment in Lorong Vista Minintod Jalan Bundusan, Penampang. The offence under Regulation 7 (1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetic Regulations 1984 carries a jail term of up to three years, or a fine of up to RM50,000 or both, on conviction. In mitigation, Edrick who was not represented, asked for a light sentence saying that he was just a middle person in selling the product via online. However, Prosecuting Officer Lim Lay Peng from the Pharmacy Department urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence for public safety and health, as it would not only serve as a lesson to Edrick but also as a warning to others who may intend to commit the same offence. Lim told the court that Cytotec was the brand name for a medication known as Misoprostol and originally registered with the Drug Control Authority in Malaysia for the approved indication of treating gastric and duodenal ulcers. However, in November 2016, Lim said the product registration holder had cancelled its registration and since then, Cytotec was classified as an unregistered product and prohibited from being sold in the Malaysian market. 'In addition to treating ulcers, Cytotec functions by inducing intense uterine contractions, which can result in miscarriage. Due to this effect, the medication has become a tool commonly exploited by unscrupulous parties for use as an abortion pill. 'Over the years, Misoprostol has been found for sale across various online platforms. In this case, based on investigation, Edrick was believed to be the seller behind the Telegram account used to illegally sell Cytotec online. 'He was caught red-handed during the raid at a post office, in possession of parcels containing Cytotec tablets, ready to be shipped to buyers. This unauthorised sale endangers public health and puts the lives of pregnant women at serious risk,' said Lim. She added that the Edrick's actions amount to facilitating or promoting unlawful abortions as he was not a licensed medical practitioner, and hence he was neither qualified nor authorised for causing a miscarriage/abortion. Lim informed the court that Edrick was a repeat offender as he was previously convicted in 2023 under the same regulation for the same product. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Duo jailed for stealing
Duo jailed for stealing

Daily Express

time44 minutes ago

  • Daily Express

Duo jailed for stealing

Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 By: Jo Ann Mool Text Size: The charge under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, up to six months' jail, or both on conviction. Kota Kinabalu: Two men were jailed five months by the Magistrate's Court here for stealing from a rented room. Md Shidee Jubri, 35, and Md Yusrain Yusof, 42, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to stealing one unit of electric fan and two multi-purpose cookers belonging to Nur Ain Lo, at 4pm on July 11, in a unit at Padimas Point, Penampang. The duo was jointly charged under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and liability of a fine, on conviction. The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecution, stated that the complainant discovered the door to her rented room wide open on the said day, with her belongings in disarray. Further checks revealed several of her items and documents belonging to her sister were missing. Acting on intelligence, a team from the Penampang District Police Headquarters arrested both Shidee and Yusrain at 1.20pm on July 17 at a car park in front of ITCC Mall, Penampang, in connection with the theft. Investigations confirmed that the duo had broken into the complainant's room and stolen the said items, which were later recovered from their rented room. The duo were ordered to serve the sentence from the date of their arrest. In a separate case, a woman was fined RM1,300 or jailed one month for having gambling paraphernalia. Nur Shahirah Syamin pleaded guilty to buying two unlicensed 'Wah Hui' lottery tickets at 2.35pm on July 9 at Indah Permai, Jalan Sepanggar. The charge under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, up to six months' jail, or both on conviction. The court found from the facts of the case that a police team conducted surveillance at the location and observed suspected illegal lottery activities before approaching a woman and uncovering paraphernalia related to the unlicensed Wah Hui lottery. The woman, later identified as Nur was arrested, and the gambling materials, including RM40 in cash, were seized from her. The court ordered the seized cash money to be forfeited as government revenue. Inspector Yusdi Basri prosecuted. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Another bullying case at MRSM, 6 students suspended
Another bullying case at MRSM, 6 students suspended

New Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Another bullying case at MRSM, 6 students suspended

KUALA LUMPUR: Six Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) students have been suspended following another bullying incident. The Form 5 students from an MRSM in Melaka are facing expulsion, Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki revealed in a Facebook post. "Early this morning, many tagged me regarding a bullying incident at an MRSM in Melaka. I immediately requested a report from Mara management," he said. He said the six students have been suspended, and the school has proposed expelling them. "No need to appeal. You touch, you go," he said in the post. Asyraf said there was no need for those involved to try and meet him. "We have said many times that Mara will not compromise on any form of bullying." He added that Mara wanted to produce leaders with good morals and manners, not "delinquents", and that he was determined to ensure Mara institutions were bully-free. Last month, a Form 2 student at an MRSM in Besut, Terengganu, claimed he was bullied by a group of senior students in the dormitory, sustaining injuries to his stomach, ribs, and back. Six students involved in that case were expelled. In April, a video of a student being bullied at an MRSM in Seberang Perai went viral. The incident happened last year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store