UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh says he will sell his Honda X-ADV motorcycle and farmed tilapia to help pay the RM300,000 in damages and legal costs ordered by the court in his defamation case involving Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
In a Facebook post, Akmal thanked supporters who had suggested setting up a public donation fund for him, but said he wanted to try settling the amount himself first.
As long as I still have something of my own that I can let go of, allow me to try that first.”
Says RM300K is a huge amount for him
Akmal said the RM300,000 sum was significant and that his existing savings were still not enough to cover it.
He added that he does not own any land or house that could be sold to make up the shortfall.
Because of that, he said he was reluctantly putting up two of his fully paid assets for sale — his Honda X-ADV and his tilapia stock.
Both have their own stories, hard work and happiness attached to them.”
Akmal said it was difficult to part with things he cared about, but he would feel worse asking others for money while he still had assets of his own to sell.
Supporters transferred over RM45,000
In a follow-up post, Akmal said he had to remove his bank account number from his earlier post after realising that many people were transferring money to him as donations rather than to buy his motorcycle or tilapia.
He said that by the time he posted the update, he had already received RM45,102.18.
“Almost everyone who transferred money into my account was not doing so to buy my motorcycle or tilapia, but because they wanted to contribute to me.”
Akmal thanked those who had sent money but reiterated that his intention was to first try selling his own assets.
I honestly do not want to burden anyone to help me. Since I will be fully responsible for this, God willing, I will bear it myself.”
He also asked supporters to stop transferring money into his account, saying he did not want to feel guilty about accepting their contributions.
Akmal added that he only needed their prayers and would later share more details for anyone genuinely interested in buying his Honda X-ADV.
‘I respect the court’s decision’
In the same post, Akmal said he respected the court’s decision and was prepared to comply with the order.
The responsibility to settle this amount will be fully borne by me.”
He also told supporters not to feel guilty if they were unable to buy the assets or contribute financially, saying their prayers and words of encouragement were already meaningful to him.
Akmal invited interested buyers to contact him privately with their offers, adding that a transaction would proceed if both parties could agree on a price.
The move comes after the Melaka High Court ruled in Teresa Kok’s favour in a defamation suit.
Akmal was ordered to pay RM250,000 in damages and RM50,000 in legal costs, bringing the total to RM300,000.
For now, Akmal says he wants to raise the money himself first — even if it means giving up two assets he described as especially dear to him.
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