Facebook user regrets false claim, admits minister’s mosque speech was not political
KUALA LUMPUR: A defamation lawsuit filed by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has been settled at the High Court here.
The case against Facebook account owner Mohd Fauzan Madzlan was concluded with a consent judgement recorded by Justice Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan.
Fahmi’s lawyer, Fahri Azzat, informed the court that both parties had reached a settlement.
Mohd Fauzan’s lawyer, Mohammed Zamri Ibrahim, confirmed the matter.
The consent judgement contained two key terms agreed upon by both parties.
Fahmi’s co-lawyer, Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, detailed the terms during a press conference.
“The defendant expressed regret over a Facebook post dated July 31, 2023,” he said.
He stated the defendant acknowledged that Fahmi’s speech was neither a political campaign nor politically motivated.
“The defendant sincerely confirmed that Fahmi’s speech on July 30, 2023, at Masjid Nurul Yaqin, Kampung Melayu Seri Kundang, Rawang, Selangor, during the 15th Selangor State Election period, was not a political campaign or a politically charged speech,” the lawyer added.
Fahmi expressed appreciation for Mohd Fauzan’s acknowledgment and the mutual agreement.
“I greatly value his confirmation,” he told the media.
He added that he and his legal team would await developments on two remaining related cases.
Fahmi has also filed lawsuits against independent preacher Ahmad Dusuki Abd Rani and Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, known as Papagomo, over the same issue.
The writ of summons filed in September 2023 claimed all three defendants published defamatory statements.
These statements accused Fahmi of misusing a mosque for election campaigning and acting contrary to the Sultan of Selangor’s directives.
Fahmi asserted the statements were baseless and that the Selangor Islamic Religious Council had confirmed he did not deliver a politically charged speech.
He had sought general, aggravated, or exemplary damages and an injunction against republication of the statements.