IGP gets leave to cite Papagomo for contempt
Lawyer Raam Kumar, representing Razarudin, said Wan Muhammad Azri, or Papagomo, had published a video containing a statement that was supposed to be an unconditional apology on April 30 with the song "Maafkan Kami" from P. Ramlee's Pendekar Bujang Lapok in the background.
"The apology was a joke. It must be remembered that this is a court matter where the defendant must show intent.
"He should be apologising unconditionally and then keep to himself, but instead, he made a clarification on the apology," Raam Kumar said on Friday (May 9).
ALSO READ: IGP files another leave application against Papagomo for committal proceedings
Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong then granted leave to Razarudin to initiate committal proceedings against Wan Muhammad Azri after hearing the submission in the ex-parte application.
The court also fixed June 30 for an inter-parte hearing for parties involved.
This is the second time Razarudin filed the leave application claiming that Wan Muhammad Azri had failed to obey several matters outlined in the committal order dated April 30.
In the ex-parte application, Razarudin said Wan Muhammad Azri had published a video online via his social media platforms TikTok ("Papa Azri") and YouTube ("Sir Azri") on May 1 where the defendant made several statements.
He said the defendant's statements in the video were contrary to the written apology that was agreed upon and read before the High Court on April 30.
ALSO READ: Papagomo apologises to IGP over defamatory remarks
"The apology made by the defendant on April 30 was insincere and without remorse, despite being made unconditionally," Razarudin said.
The breach in the April 30 committal order, Razarudin said, constituted "a second act of contempt" against the High Court.
"The defendant's contempt of the committal order renders him liable to committal proceedings for contempt of court," he added.
A check on the court's e-filing system showed that the leave application would be heard before JC Gan on Friday.
On April 30, Wan Muhammad Azri issued an unreserved apology to the IGP over defamatory and demeaning remarks made earlier this year.
ALSO READ: IGP gets injunction preventing Papagomo from issuing further defamatory statements
The apology pertains to two media postings published in January, despite a court order issued on Dec 31 prohibiting him from making such statements.
JC Gan, in delivering the court's decision, said the apology, which was read aloud in court, must also be published on YouTube, TikTok, X, and Telegram for at least seven days.
He also ordered the blogger to pay RM5,000 in costs.
During the proceedings on April 30, the court was originally scheduled to hear contempt of court proceedings initiated by Razarudin against the blogger, but both parties were advised to seek a resolution, which led to Wan Muhammad Azri's apology and subsequent purging of the contempt.
On Dec 26, Razarudin filed a RM3mil defamation suit against Wan Muhammad Azri, which also named Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a related party.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
43 minutes ago
- The Star
Open by default
WHEN the explosion and fire shook a residential area in Putra Heights, Selangor, in early April this year, residents were left not just with anxiety and trauma but also with lingering doubts. Even after the investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Department – which was made public in June – revealed that ground instability was what led to the gas pipeline explosion, and the police subsequently classified the case as 'No Further Action', residents continue to grapple with unresolved questions, calling on the government to provide them with answers. Why did the explosion happen only there? What about the construction of shop lots near the pipeline's location? And why is it so difficult to access such information? Incidents like this reveal a deeper truth that access to information is not just a tool for journalists or watchdogs – it can affect the lives of everyday Malaysians too. This is one reason why advocates say it is important the government keeps its promise to table a Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill in Parliament soon. FOI supporters say the law could empower citizens in ways that extend far beyond politics and media; from holding the government accountable for safety and land use decisions, to improving services through smarter, more transparent data sharing. Changing the mindset Lawyer and former Selangor Bar chairman Kokila Vaani Vadiveloo says a federal FOI law would benefit ordinary citizens seeking information about government activities that directly affect them, including issues of environmental hazards, land use, and healthcare policies. She cites the example of a notable judgment in 2023 involving a High Court order that required the government to release an accident investigation report about a plane crash that killed 11 people almost half a century ago in 1976. 'This case illustrated how families struggled to access information without FOI provisions,' she says. But beyond that, she says it could also help so many segments of society, such as students and researchers wanting to carry out evidence-based analysis, small business owners who may need to investigate regulations and obtain contract information, or legal professionals looking to gain evidence or background for court cases. Kokila says in South Africa, for example, environmental groups and minority shareholders have used FOI laws to obtain critical information on corporate projects affecting their interests. 'FOI is recognised as a consumer right to enable informed choices,' Kokila says. State and culture The Malaysian public has a right to know how the government conducts activities that shape daily lives, stresses senior manager (research) for the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), Alissa Rode. Because of the lack of an FOI law, she says only seven out of the 13 states and territories published their annual budget estimates online as of 2024. 'Expenditure information should be considered critical information that is proactively disclosed, but failing that, a minimal right to information would enable citizens to obtain this information,' she says. This also shows that it is important for an FOI law to be adopted by all states, not just at the federal level, she adds, as state governments also possess data that is important to the average citizen. Sinar Project coordinator Khairil Yusof points out that two states – Penang and Selangor – already have FOI laws at the state level. From their interactions with the two state governments, he says the implementation of an FOI law creates not only a legal change, but also a change in culture within the government from being the gatekeeper of information to an 'open by default' approach. 'The cultural change is the under-standing that government information and knowledge resources are publicly funded and that they should be freely available and accessible to the public. 'It also creates an enabling environment for government agencies to proactively share public information and data, not just with the public but also between government agencies,' says Khairil. In practice, existing laws and bureau-cracy often hinder this as government officials are prevented from sharing information with the public. There is a provision in the Penal Code, Section 203A, which Khairil describes as being 'very vague', that discourages civil servants from sharing information. Section 203A states that it is a crime for civil servants to disclose any information obtained by them in the performance of their duties under any written law. 'So often, even if the information requested is not secret, it requires a lot of additional work for both parties to share that information. 'For example, the cleanliness of rivers that the officer already had on their computer.' Indirect beneficiary Another main obstacle to information access in Malaysia is the Official Secrets Act (OSA), as Rode points out. The OSA makes all information confidential by default. 'Without an FOI law, a citizen seeking information would commonly get shunted around the bureaucracy looking for a sympathetic and empowered officer, as there is no obligation on the part of public officials to meet the request or even reveal who is responsible for that data. 'Even if the department in question is willing to provide the data, requests are often deprioritised,' she says. Kokila adds that without FOI protections, any whistleblower disclosing public interest information becomes at risk of prosecution and their disclosures often end up being suppressed by secrecy laws. Thus, Rode says, although an FOI law should at minimum mandate passive disclosure – that is, information is provided upon request – countries with the highest standards of transparency would go one step further and embrace active disclosure and an 'open by default' approach to information. 'Ideally, the upcoming FOI law should set up the expectation that critical information is made available online by default. Exceptions can still be made for security and privacy purposes, but such exceptions should be narrowly defined,' she says. Is there hope? Khairil says there are already examples in Malaysia of a more 'open by default' approach to data collected by the government, such as the Health Ministry's Covid-Now dashboard, the Department of Statistics's OpenDOSM portal, and the Public Sector Open Data initiatives. The results of such initiatives have shown that beyond governance and rights issues, an FOI law also immediately paves the way for an open government and unlocks the full value of the work done by the civil service by making public information open by default. 'It enables rapid digital transformation innovations not only for the governments, but for everyone,' says Khairil. But usually, the general public is an indirect beneficiary of access to information, mostly without realising it, he says, providing what he calls a relatable example: Local councils like the Petaling Jaya City Council and the Subang Jaya City Council do spot checks and grade restaurant cleanliness; the rating is displayed on the inspected premises. 'If this dataset were publicly available, then companies like Google, FoodPanda, or Grab could incorporate these grades in their apps.' To drive home the point of how much the people take the indirect benefits of open data for granted, Khairil points to a global example; the GPS system used worldwide is only possible because the United States government made it public. 'Imagine a world where only limited people could have access to GPS navigation.'
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Aug 1, 2025)
Malaysia: * Media a vital bridge of information between police and public, says IGP * Penang defers implementation of new water tariffs to July 2026 * Children accused of crime must be treated with dignity, says Suhakam * US cuts Malaysia tariff to 19% from 25% * 'Governor's family not involved in student's death' * Malaysia factory slump eases as July PMI hits five-month high * Four teens nabbed for allegedly beating up classmate in Kajang mall * Malaysian pharmaceuticals, semiconductors exempt from US tariffs, minister says * Reduction of US tariff rate to 19% a significant achievement, says Zafrul * Kuching Waterfront set to be longest riverfront nationwide * Unemployed man charged with raping former sister-in-law in Cheras * Man who stabbed cop in KL tests positive for dugs * Ten police officers nabbed by MACC to face disciplinary action, says Bukit Aman * CAAM-Mavcom rationalisation in effect, Mohd Sharil is new chairman, says Transport Ministry * Minimum wage extended to contract apprentices as amended law takes effect, says HR Ministry * Teen pregnancies still an issue in Sabah due to poor sex education, says state assistant minister East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta delivers his speech at the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) Secretariat in Jakarta on August 1, 2025. -- Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP Singapore: * Man accused of raping Singaporean woman who hired him to fix lights in her flat claims she made first move * Three Singaporean men charged over living on the earnings of prostitution * Tanjong Katong sinkhole: Singapore says affected road will open progressively to motorists from noon on Aug 2 * Singapore's 2024 MRT breakdown could have been prevented with better coordination: SMRT CEO * HK actor Raymond Lam and family kick off their summer vacation in Singapore * Mariah Carey to stage shows in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan * Asia: Stocks struggle as Trump unveils new tariff sweep * S'pore cop among trio held over illegal exit attempt * US, Australia hold joint military exercise in Papua New Guinea for first time * Singapore's OCBC sees lower 2025 net interest income, Q2 profit matches forecasts Indonesia: * A treat for Nusantara music fans - Indonesian star Pamungkas and local boys Fugo join in the fun for Panggung Purnama concert on Sept 28 * World economies reel from Trump's tariffs punch, but most South-East Asian countries rejoice thanks to kinder rates * Indonesian President Prabowo pardons political opponents * RM2mil drug haul: Syndicate smuggling to Indonesia busted * Farmer charged with trafficking six Indonesians into country * Prabowo's political rivals among over 1,000 granted clemency * Paradise beaches sit empty as Indonesia bets on saturated Bali * Oil steadies as concerns about tariff impacts vie with Russian supply threats Foreign military attaches from major powers and Asean member countries, along with diplomats from 23 countries and Thai military personnel, visit a shelter in Sisaket province following a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, where displaced people have been staying since July 24, in Sisaket province, Thailand, August 1, 2025. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa Thailand: * Thailand seeks neutral venue for border talks with Cambodia; Malaysia seems to be best venue * Thailand welcomes 19% US tariff as 'major success' * Trump sets 19% tariff on Thailand, Cambodia after peace deal' * Court to rule on Thaksin's hospitalisation jail dodge * Trump's tariffs send Asian FX markets reeling, won leads losses * New US tariffs draw regional reactions across Asia-Pacific * Trump's call broke deadlock in Thailand-Cambodia border crisis Philippines: * World Bank to provide US$700mil loan to boost Philippines' resilience to natural disasters * Philippines national nabbed at Kota Kinabalu airport with fake travel passes * Philippines' Marcos eyes India trade, defence in talks with Modi * Philippines records 10.5bil pesos infrastructure damage due to south-west monsoon, cyclones with death toll at 37 * Asian currencies fall to two-month low as tariff deadline nears * On World Day Against Trafficking, UN sounds alarm on scam centre surge China's swimmer Peng Xuwei dives as she competes in a semi-final of the women's 200m backstroke swimming event during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Friday, August 1, 2025. -- Photo by François-Xavier MARIT / AFP Vietnam: * Weather havoc in Vietnam - Flash floods kill three in mountainous north, nine more people missing * Vietnamese PM calls for completion of 3,000 km of expressways by end-2025 * Flooding leaves 14 dead, missing in Vietnam's Dien Bien * Vietnamese lychees attract global buyers * Asia's factory activity worsens as US trade uncertainty bites * Countries with no trade deal will hear from US by midnight, White House says Myanmar: * Myanmar enforces Cybersecurity Law, targeting unauthorised online gambling and VPN services * Myanmar imposes martial law in 63 townships following state of emergency declaration * US tariff set to shift Indochina economic balance with Myanmar and Laos worst hit * Japan says 'seriously concerned' about Myanmar elections without release of those detained * Conflict-ridden Myanmar to vote A crew disembarks the Indian Navy ship guided-missile destroyer, INS Delhi, that is docked at Manila's port, Philippines, on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. -- AP Photo/Aaron Favila Cambodia: * Cambodia to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, says deputy PM * Thailand returns two wounded soldiers to Cambodia but continues to hold 18 of their comrades * Cambodia says the country had agreed to talks in Malaysia at Thailland's request * Cambodia deputy PM says 19% US tariff rate averts collapse of its garments manufacturing sector * Hun Manet urges troop release as ceasefire holds Laos: * Russia, Laos sign seven documents, including a roadmap for nuclear cooperation * US tariff set to shift Indochina economic balance with Myanmar and Laos worst hit * Laos launches digital ID system Brunei: * Brunei announces enforcement on abuse of dominant positions * Brunei lion dance team heads to Kuala Lumpur for international debut * Brunei enforces key provisions of the Competition Act Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith applause during a ceremony of exchange of documents following their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia. -- AP AseanPlus: * Penang chosen as filming spot for Miss HK Pageant 2025, joined by TVB stars Benjamin Yuen & Moon Lau * Save my baby: Mother gives up baby girl while being nabbed during immigration raid in Tawau * What's it like to scale the highest active volcano in South-East Asia * Immigration nabs dozens of foreigners in raids on Pontian nightclubs * Actress Eleanor Lee wins lawsuit against former assistant who doctored her audio recording * Captain of Turkish yacht found safe after 40-hour ordeal at sea * Forget dating apps: More young Malaysians go back to face-to-face interactions * Beijing officials admit 'gaps' in readiness after rains kill dozens * Man's naked body found surrounded by sex toys in Hong Kong flat * China prepares to unseat US in fight for AI market * Hong Kong police arrest 82 triad suspects, seize assets worth HK$15 million * The cultural lore and hidden gems in 'KPop Demon Hunters' * Trump says tariffs talks with China 'moving along well' * Landslide-prone Nepal tests AI-powered warning system * Australian minister says US tariffs to remain at 10% * Hong Kong GDP expands 3.1%, faster than forecast * Japanese woman with child injured in subway station attack in China, says Tokyo embassy * Ancient 'lamp shells' practised social distancing, fossil find in China reveals * Renewable energy on fast lane amid China's green transition * Nvidia says no 'backdoors' in chips as China questions security * Chinese warships arrive in Russia for joint Pacific naval exercise * Did a lab of AI 'scientists' design a possible Covid-19 treatment? * Taiwan to seek lower tariff after Trump's 'temporary' 20% levy * China's manufacturing activity shrinks as exports drag, S&P PMI shows * Trump sets 10% to 41% 'reciprocal' tariffs on dozens of countries' exports * Toddler survives deadly encounter with cobra by biting its head off * Japan plans another record hike in minimum wage, Kyodo News says * Woman, 35, to deny making false statement to secure Hong Kong study permit * China, HK stocks book steepest weekly losses since April on soft data, Trump tariffs * Hulk Hogan's racist sex tape influenced estranged daughter Brooke to remove herself from will * China courier puts sick daughter in delivery box at work to save on childcare * Will China win renewables race while US pivots to fossil fuels and nuclear? * Wu Yiquan: The Chinese AI researcher scoring big on the basketball court * South Korea says it has no written pact on US trade deal * South Korean restaurant owner puts pet dog inside fridge to prevent animal from overheating * US President Trump hits dozens of countries' goods with steep tariffs; Canada, Brazil and India among worst hit * Heat fuels China's booming night-time tourism - As sweltering heat waves sweep across China, a recent tourist trend has emerged * South Korea's former President strongly resists special counsel's attempt to arrest him for questioning * South Korea's ex-leader Yoon lay on floor of cell and refused to be questioned, prosecutors say / New arrest warrant for Yoon over missed summons
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Appeals court orders return of Port Dickson land after fraudulent sale
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has affirmed a High Court decision to return a parcel of land in Port Dickson to its rightful owner, after it was transferred through a series of fraudulent transactions. A three-judge panel led by Datuk S. Nantha Balan ruled that both Top ATC Industries Sdn Bhd and businessman Lee Kok Chian had failed to prove they were bona fide (genuine) purchasers of the land, which had been fraudulently transferred by an imposter posing as the registered trustee. The appellate court also upheld the High Court's order for the land to be re-registered in the name of its rightful owner, Cheok Lam Chuan, who filed the suit after discovering the illicit transfer in 2018. On Jan 21, 2016, the subject land was fraudulently "transferred" to Fu Zhi Mao Group Sdn Bhd before the latter entered a Sale and Purchase Agreement with Top ATC Industries on Feb 24, the same year. On March 29, 2016, (barely 6 days after the transfer of the land), Top ATC Industries entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement with Lee. The transfer of the subject land took place on Nov 1, 2016. "Apart from the sinister conclusions that are to be derived from the suspicious timing of the transaction between Fu Zhi Mao Group and Top ATC Industries, there is the added fact that the latter had failed to prove that it had made any payment to the former. "Lee ought to have suspected that the previous transaction could be fraudulent due to the short timeline of sale of the land. "He should have undertaken the ordinary precautions and investigations as a reasonable and prudent purchaser. "However, Lee deliberately shut his eyes to the obvious and refrained from checking or making further inquiries about the earlier land transfer," he said in his ground of judgment yesterday. The court also upheld the lower court's finding that neither Top ATC Industries nor Lee had acted in good faith in their dealings over the land transaction. The court also held that the Negri Sembilan Registrar of Titles and Director of Lands and Mines were negligent for failing to detect or prevent the fraudulent registration. The appellate court affirmed all the lower court's orders, including: -Cancelling the registration of the land in Lee's name and restoring it to Cheok. -The award of RM100,000 in aggravated damages against Top ATC and Lee. -An order for both parties to pay RM50,000 each in legal costs to Cheok. -A cost order of RM10,000 against the two land officers.
