Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil tells court that false social media posts have tarnished his reputation as an MP and minister, seeking damages.
KUALA LUMPUR: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil testified in the High Court today that defamatory statements by independent preacher Ahmad Dusuki Abd Rani had severely damaged his public reputation as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister.
The Lembah Pantai MP stated that the false narrative painted him in a bad light and undermined his credibility as an elected public servant serving the people’s interests.
Fahmi explained that he was condemned and humiliated by the public as a result of the posts, suffering what he described as irreparable loss and damage to his reputation.
He told Judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan that the deliberate lie posted by Ahmad Dusuki on Facebook was done with malice and contained no truth.
“My reputation has been tarnished in the eyes of the public, which is directly damaging to my career as a politician,” Fahmi said in his witness statement during the hearing of his defamation lawsuit.
The minister expressed shock that his actions in educating the public about a social issue were overturned by a false accusation of abusing a place of worship for political gain.
He clarified that the post was completely untrue, as he did not deliver any political speech or religious talk requiring a teaching permit at the mosque in question.
Fahmi asserted he had merely stopped to perform obligatory prayers and was invited to spontaneously explain the issue surrounding the band The 1975, which could be verified by those present.
He noted the court could read through the abusive comments directed at him on the defendant’s Facebook post, which were fuelled by the false statement.
The minister further stated he had fully cooperated with investigations by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), with both authorities deciding to take no further action.
“Furthermore, there have been clear and direct statements made by two authoritative bodies which rebut the defendant’s post and yet, the defendant has not retracted his statement,” Fahmi said.
According to his statement of claim filed in September 2023, Fahmi alleges Ahmad Dusuki published defamatory statements accusing him of misusing a mosque for election campaigning and acting contrary to the Sultan of Selangor’s decrees.
Fahmi claims the defamatory statements were published on Ahmad Dusuki’s Facebook and Instagram accounts on July 31, 2023, and are seeking damages and an injunction to prevent their republication.
The trial continues tomorrow.
